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,Some  Thoughts,, n^^ 

(j//i'^       Concerning  the  prefent   /i/lOC/^^ 

Revival  of  Religion 


I   N 


NEW-ENGLAND, 

And  the  Way  in,  which  it  ought  to   be 
acknowledged  and  promoted. 
Humbly  offered  to  the  Publick, 


m  a 


TREATISE  on  that  Subjed. 

In  Five  Parts   ; 


Part  I.  Shew^ing  thai 
the  Work  that  has  of 
late  been  going  on  ir 
this  Land,  is  a  glori- 
ous Work  of  God. 

Part  II.  Shewins;  the 
Obligations  that  all  are 
underjto  acknowlege, 
rejoice  in  and  promote 
this  Work,  and  the 
great  Danger  of  the 
contrary 

Part  IH. 
manylnftances ,  where 


Shewing  in 


in  the  Subjefts, or  zea- 
lous PromoterSjof  this 
Work  have  been  inju- 
rioufly  blamed. 

Part  IV.  Shew^ingwhat 
Things  are  to  be  cor- 
re6led  or  avoided,  in 
promoting  chis  Work, 
or  iii  rur  Behaviour 
undef'it. 

PaIv'v  V.  Shewing  pofi- 
tively  w^hat  ought  to 
be  done  to  promote 
^is  Work. 


By  JONATHAN  EDWARDS,  A,M. 

Paflor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  at  Northampton, 

Ifai.  40.  ;.  Prepare }[e  the  ITayofihg  Lord,  make  firait 
in  the  De/art  a  high-  JVay  for  our  God 

BOSTON  :  Printed  and  Sold  by  S.  KneelaM 
and  T,  Gr^m  in  ^em-Str^fty  1742, 


[    i    ] 


THE 

PREFACE 

/N  the  enfuing  "Treatife,  I  condemn  Mini- 
fters  ajfuming,  or  taking  too  much  upon 
them,  and  appearing  as  tho'  they  fuppo- 
fed  that  they  were  the  Perfons,  to  whom 
it  efpecially  belonged  to  ditlate,  dire^  and  de- 
termine ;  but  perhaps  Jhall  be  thought  to  be 
very  guilty  of  it  my  felf:  And  feme  when  they 
read  this  Treatife,  may  be  ready  to  fay  that  I 
condemn  this  in  others^  that  I  may  have  the 
Monopoly  of  it. /  confefs  that  I  have  ta- 
ken a  great  deal  of  Liberty  freely  to  exprefs 
my  Thoughts,  concerning  almof:  every  Thing 
appertatjiing  to  the  wonderful  Work  of  GOD 
that  has  of  late  been  carried  on  in  the  hand, 
and  to  declare  what  has  appeared  to  me  to  be 
the  Mind  of  GOD,  concerning  the  Duty  and 
Obligations  of  all  Sorts  of  Perfons,  and  even 
thofe  that  are  my  Super iours  'and  Fathers, 
Miniflers  of  the .  Gofpel,  and  Civil  Rulers  : 
But  yet  I  hope  the  Liberty  I  have  taken  is 
not  greater  than  can  be  juftifed.  In  a  free 
A  2  'Nation^ 


1 

11  Tfce  P  R  E  F  A  C  E,  ! 

Nation,  fuch  Liberty  of  the  Prefs  is  allowed, 
that  every  Author  takes  Leave  zviihout  Of- 
fence, freely  to  fpeak  his  Opinion  concerning 
the  Management  of  public k  yiffairs,  and  the 
Duty  of  the  Legiflature,  and  thofe  that  are 
at  the  Head  of  the  Adminiftration,^  tho'  vaflly 
his  Superiours,  As  7iow  at  this  Bay,  private 
Subje^s  offer  their  Sentiments  to  the  Publick, 
from  the  Prefs,  concerning  the  Management 
of  theJVar  with  Spain  ;  freely  declaring  what 
they  think  to  be  the  Duty  of  the  Parliament, 
and  the  principal  Minijiers  of  State,  &:c.  PFe'^ 
in  New-England  are  at  this  Bay  engaged  in 
a  mor^  importa?U  War  :  And  Frnfure,  if%vc 
confider  the  fad '  Jangling  and  Confujion 
that  has  attended  it,  %ve  fhall  confefs  that  it 
is  highly  reqiiifite  that  fome  Body  fhould  fpeak 
his  Mind,  corxerning  the  Way  in  which  it 
ciight  to  be  managed :  And  that  not  only  a 
fezo  of  the  rn^ny  Particulars,  that  are  the- 
Matter  of  Strife- in  the  Land,  fhould'  be  de- 
hated,  on  the  one  Side  and  the  other,  in  Pam- 
phlets ;  (as  has  of  late  been  done,  with  Heat 
and  Fiercenefs  enough  \)  which  don^t  tend  to 
bring  the  Contention  in  general  to  an  Endj 
but  rather  to  inflame  it,  and  increafe  the  Up- 
roar :  But  that  fomething  fhould  be  publifhed^ 
to  bring  the  Affair  in  general,  and  the  mayty 
things  that  ({ttend  ity  that  are  the  Subje£ls 

of 


The  P  R  E  F  A  C  E.  iii 

of  Debate^  under  a  particular  Confideration. 
And  certainly  it  is  high  Time  that  this  was 
done.     If  private  Perfons  may  fpeak  their 
Minds  without  Arrogance  ;  much  more  may  a. 
Minijlcr  of  the  Kingdom  of  CHRIST'  fpeak 
freely  ahoui  'Things  of  this  Nature^  which  do 
fo  nearly  concern  the  Interefi  of  the  Kingdom 
of  his  Lord  and  Mafler^  at  fo  important  a 
Junf^ure.     If  fome  elder  Minifter  had  under- 
taken this^  ^  I  acknowledge  it  would  have  been 
more  proper  ;  but  I  have  heard  of  no  fuch 
Thing  a  doings  or  like  to  he  done.     I  hope 
therefore  I  f}:>all  be  e^cufed  for  undertaking 
fuch  a  Piece  of  Work.     I  think  that  nothing 
that  I  have  faid  can  juflly  he  interpreted^  as 
tho''  I  would  impofe  ,  my  Thoughts  upon  any^ 
cr  did  not  fuppofe  that  others   hav3   equal 
Right  to  think  for  themfelves,  with  my  felf 
We  are  not  accountable  one  to  another  for  our 
Thoughts  V  but  we  mujl  all  give  an  Account 
to  him  who  fearches  our  Hearts^  and  has 
doubtlefs  his  Eye  efpecially  upon  us  at  fuch  an 
extraordinary  Seafon  as  this.     If  I  have  well 
confirmed  my  Opinion  concerning  this  Work^ 
and  the  Way  in  which  it  fhould  be  acknow- 
ledged and  promoted^  with  Scripture  and  Rea- 
fon^  I  hope  others  that  read  it  will  receive  it^ 
as  a  Manifeftation  of  the  Mind  and  Will  of 
GODt     If  others  would  hold  forth  further 
A  3  Light 


^r 


iv  Ttte  P  R  E  F  A  C  E. 

Li^bt  to  me  in  any  of  thefe  Particulars^  I 
hope  IJhould  thankfully  receive,  it.  I  think 
I  have  been  made  in  feme  Meafure  fenfihle^ 
and  much  more  of  late  than  formerly^  of  my 
Need  of  more  Wifdom  than  I  have.  1  make 
it  my  Rule  to  lay  hold  of  Light  and  embrace 
it^  where-ever  I  fee  it.,  tho"  held  forth  by  a 
Child  or -an  Enemy.  If  I  have  affumed  too 
much  in  the  following  Difcourfe^  and  havefpo- 
ken  in  a  Manner  that  favours  of  a  Spirit  of 
Pride ^  no  Wonder  that  others  can  better  difcern 
it  than  I  my  felf  If  it  be  fo  I  ajk  Pardon, 
and  beg  the  Prayers  of  every  Chriflian  Rea- 
der^ that  I  may  have  more  Lights  Humility 
and  Zeal  \  and  that  I  may  be  favoured  with 
fuch  Meafures  of  the  Divine  Spirit^  as  a 
Minijler  of  the  Gofpeljlands  in  Need  of,  at 
fuch  an  evitraordinayy  Seafon. 


( I ) 


P  ART    L 

Shewing  that  the  extraordinary 
WORK  that  has  of  late  been 
going  on  in  this  Land,  is  a 
glorious  WORK  OF  GOD. 


^'S^  HE  Error  of  thofe  who  have 
l^f^.g^?  had  ill  Thoughts  of  the  great 

religious    Uperation    on    the 

Minds  of  Men,  that  has  been 
carried  on  of  late  in  New- 
England^  (fo  far  as  the  Ground 
of  fuch  an  Error  has  been 
in  the  Underftanding,  and  .not  in  the  Difpo- 
fition,)  feems  fundamentally  to  lie  in  three 
Things  ;  Firji^  in  judging  of  this  Work  aprioru 
Secondly^  in  not  taking  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  an 
whole  Rule  whereby  to  judge  of  fuch  Operati- 
ons. Thirdly^  in  not  juftly  feparating  and  diftin- 
guifhing  the  good  frgm  the  bad, 

I.  They 


i 


I  Means  made  ufe  of         Part  I. 

1.    They  have  greatly  err-d  in  the  Way  ir. 
which  they  have  gorfe  about  to  try  thus  TVor's:, 
whether  it  be  a  Work  of  the  Spirit  ci  God   or 
no,  viz,  in  judging  of  it  a  priori  y  from  the  Way 
that  it  began,  the  Inftruments  that  have  been 
employed,  the  Means  that  have  been  made  Ufe 
of,  and  the  Methods  that  have  been  taken  and 
fucceeded,  in  carrying  it  on.     Whereas,  if  we 
duly  confider  the  Matter,  it  will  evidently  ap- 
pear that  fuch  a  Work  is  not  to  be  judged  of 
a  priori^  but  a  pojleriori  :  We  are  to  obferve  the 
ElFe6l  wrought ;  and  if,  upon  Examination  of 
that,  it  be  found  to  be  agreeable  to  tlie  Word  of 
Got),  we  are  bound  without  more  ado  to  reft  in 
it  as  God's  Work  ^  and  fhall  be  like  to  be  rebu- 
ked for  our  Arrogance,  if  we  refufe  fo  to  do  'till 
God  fhall  explain  to  us  how  he  has  brought  this 
Effeft  to  pafs,  or  why  he  has  made  Ufe  of  fuch 
and  fuch  Means  in  doing  of  it.     Thofe  Texts  are 
enough  to  caufe  us  with  trembling  to  forbear  fuch 
a  Way  of  proceeding  in  judging  of  a  Work  of 
God's  Spirit,  Ifai.  40.   13,   14.   Jflro  hath  di- 
re^ed  the  Spirit  of  the  LORD  ^  or  being  his  Coun- 
fellor  hath  taught  hi?n  ?  IVith  whom  -iook  he  Coun- 
fel?  and  who  iriJimSted  hitn^  a7id  zvho  taught  him 
.  in  the  Path  of  Judgrnent^   and  taught  him   Know- 
ledge^ andjhewed  to  him  the  Way  of  Underftanding  ? 
Joh.   3.   8.   The   Wiyid  hloweth  wha'e  )t   lijieth  ; 
and  thou  hearejl  the  Sound  thereof  ^  but  canfi  not  tell 
whence  it  cometh,  and  whether  it  goeth.     We  hear 
the  found,  we   perceive  the  EfFeft,  and   from 
thence  we  judge  that  the  Wind  does  indeed  blow  ; 
WithQUt  waiting,  before  we  pafs  this  Judgment,' 

firft 


Part  L  in  tUs  IVork.  3 

firft  to  be  fatisfied  what  fhould  be  the  Caufe  of 
the  Wind's  blowing  from  fuch  a  Part  of  the  Hea- 
vens, and  how  it  fhould  come  to  pafs  that^it 
fhould  blow  in  fuch  a  Manner,  at  fuch  a  Time. 
To  judge  a  priori^  h  a  wrong  V/ay  of  judging  of 
any  of  the  Works  of  God.    We  are  not  to  re- 
folve  that  we  will  firfl  be  fatisfied  how  God 
brought  this  or  the  other  EffecSl  to  pafs,  and  why 
he  hath  made  it  thus,  or  why  it  has  pleafed  him 
to  take  fuch  a  Courfe,   and   to   ufe  fuch  and  fuch 
Mieans,  before  we  will  acknowledge  his  Work, 
and  give  him  the  Glory  of  it.     This  is  too  much 
for  the  C%  to  take  upon  it  with  refpeil:  to  the 
Potter.     GOD  gives  not  Account  of  his  Matters  : 
His  'Judgments  arc  a  greatDeep  :   He  hath  his  Way 
in  the  Sea*  and  his  Path  in  the  2reat  Waters^,  and 
his  Footjleps  are  not  kncvjn  j  and  who  Jhall  teach 
GOD  Knowledge^  or  enjoin  him  his  Way^  or  fay 
imto  him  what  doeji  thou  ?  IVe  know  not  what  is 
the  Way  of  the  Spirit^  nor  how  the  Bones  do  grow 
in  the  Womb  of  her  that  is  with  Child ;  even  fo  we 
knoiu  7iot  the  Works  of  GOD  who  maketh  all     No 
wonder  therefore  if  thofe  that  go  this  forbidden 
Way  to  work,  in  judging  of  the  prefent  wonder- 
ful Operation,  are  perplexed  and  confounded. 
We  ought  to  take  heed  that  we  don*t  e>:pofe  our 
felves  to  the  Calamity  of  thofe  who  pried  into  the 
Ark  of  God,  when  God  mercifully  returned  it 
to  Ifrael^  after  it  had  departed  from  them. 

Indeed  God  has  not  taken  that  Courfe,  nor 
made  Ufe  of  thofe  Means,  to  begin  and  carry  on 
this  great  Work,  which  Men  in  their  Wifdom, 
would  have  thought  moft  advifeable,  li  he  had 

afked  ,. 


4  Means  made  Ufe  of        Part  L 

afked  their  Counfel ;  but  quite  the  contrary. 
But  it  appears  to  me  that  the  great  God  has 
wrought  HkeHimfelf,  in  the  Manner  of  his  carry- 
ing on  this  Work  ;  fo  as  very  much  to  fhow  his 
own  Glory,  and  exalt  his  own  Sovereignty,  Pow- 
er and  All-fufficiency,  and  pour  Contempt  on  all 
that  human  Strength,  Wifdom,  Prudence  and 
Sufficiency,  that  Men  have  been  won't  to  truft, 
and  to  glory  in ;  and  fo  as  greatly  to  crofs,rebuke 
and  chaftize  the  Pride  and  other  Corruptions  of 
Men  ;  in  a  Fulfilment  of  that  Ifai.  2.  17.  And 
the  Loftinefs  of  Man  Jloall  be  hoived  down^  and  the 
Haughtinefs  of  Men  Jhall  be  made  loWy  and  the 
LORD  alone  Jhall  be  exalted  in  that  Day.  GoD 
doth  thus,  in  intermingling  in  his  Providence  fo, 
many  Stumbling-blocks  with  this  Work  ;  in  fuf- 
fering  fo  much  of  human  Weaknefs  and  Infirmity 
to  appear  ;  and  in  ordering  fo  many  Things  that 
are  myfterious  to  Men'sWifdom  :  in  pouring  out 
his  Spirit  chiefly  on  the  common  People,  and  be- 
flowing  his  greateft  and  higheft  Favours  upon 
them,  admitting  them  nearer  to  himfelf  than  the 
great,  the  honourable,  the  rich  and  the  learned, 
agreeable  to  that  Prophecy,  Zech.  12.  7.  The 
LORD  alfo  Jhall  fave  the  Tents  of  Judah  firji, 
that  the  Glory  of  the  Houfe  of  David ^  and  the  Glory 
of  the  Inhabitants  offeriifalem^  do  not  magnify  them-- 
felves  againjl  Judah,  Thofe  that  dwelt  in  the 
Tents  of  Judah  were  the  common  People,  that 
dwelt  in  the  Country,  and  were  of  inferiour 
Rank.  The  Inhabitants  of  Jerufalem  were  their 
Citizens,  their  Men  of  Wealth  and  Figure  :  And 
Jerufalem  alfo  was  the  chief  Place  of  the  Habita- 
tion 


Part  I.  i^^  ^^^^  Work.  5 

tion  or  Refort  of  their  Priefts,  and  Levites,  and 
their  Officers  and  Judges  ;  there  fat  the  great 
Sanhedrhn,  The  Houfe  of  David  were  the  high- 
eft  Rank  of  all,  the  Royal  Family,  and  the  great 

Men  that  were  round  about  the  King. 'Tis 

evident  by  the  Context,  that  this  Prophecy  has 
Refpedl  to  fomething  further  than  the  faving  the 
People  out  of  the  Babylonifti  Captivity. 

God  in  this  Work  has  begun  at  the  lower 
End,  and  he  has  made  Ufe  of  the  weak  and  foo- 
lifh  Things  of  the  World  to  carry  on  his  Work. 
The  Minifters  that  have  been  chiefly  improved, 
fome  of  them  have  been  meer  Babes  in  Age  and 
Standing,  and  fome  of  them  fuch  as  have  not 
been  fo  high  in  Reputation  among  their  Fellow* 
as  many  others  3  and  God  has  fufFered  their  In- 
firmities to  appear  in  the  Sight  of  others,  fo  as 
much  to  difpleafe  them  ;  and  at  the  fame  Time 
it  has  pleafed  God  to  improve  them,  and  greatly 
to  fucceed  them,  while  he  has  not  fo  fucceeded 
others  that  are  generally  reputed  vaftly  their  Su- 
periours.  Yea,  there  is  Reafon  to  think  that  it 
has  pleafed  God  to  make  Ufe  of  the  Infirmities 
and  Sins  of  fome  that  he  has  improved  and  fuc- 
ceeded ;  as  particularly  their  imprudent  and  rafh 
Zeal  and  cenforious  Spirit,  to  chaftize  the  Dead- 
nefs,  Negligence,Earthly-mindednels  and  Vanity, 
that  have  been  found  among  Minifters,  in  the 
late  Times  of  general  Declenfion  and  Deadnefs, 
wherein  wife  Virgins  and  foolifh,  Minifters  and 
People  have  funk  into  fuch  a  deep  Sleep.  Thefe 
Things  in  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,  that  go  forth 
as  the  Ambafladors  of  Christ,  and  have  the 

Care 


6  GOD  begins  at         Part  I. 

Care  of  immortal  Souls,  are  extremely  abomina- 
ble to  God  ;  va%  more  hateful  in  hisSight  than 
all  the  Imprudence,  and  intemperate  Heats,  Wild- 
nefs  and  Diftraftion  (as  fome  call  it)  of  thefe 
zealous  Preachers.  A  fupine  Carelefnefs,  and  a 
vain,  carnal,  worldly  Spirit,  in  a  Minifter  of  the 
Gofpel,  is  the  worft  Madnefs  and  Diftraaion  in 
the  Sight  of  God.  God  may  alfo  make  Ufe  at 
this  Day,  of  the  unchriftian  Cenforioufnefs  of 
fome  Preachers,  the  more  to  humble  and  purify 
fome  of  his  own  Children  and  true  Servants,  that 
have  been  wrongfully  cenfured,  to  fit  them  for 
more  eminent  Service,  and  future  Honour  that 
he  defigns  them  for. 

IL  Another  Foundation-Error  of  thofe  that 
don't  acknowledge  the  Divinity  of  this  Work,  is 
not  taking  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  an  whole^  and 
in  it  felf  a  fufficient  Rule  to  judge  of  fuch  Things 
by.  They  that  have  one  certain  confiftent  Rule 
to  judge  by,  are  like  to  come  to  fome  clear 
Determination  ;  but  they  that  have  half  a  Dozen 
different  Rules  to  make  the  Thing  they  would 
judge  of  agree  to,  no  Wonder  that  inftead  of 
juftly  and  clearly  determining,  they  do  but  per- 
plex and  darken  themfelves  and  others.  They 
that  would  learn  the  true  Meafure  of  any  Thing, 
and  will  have  many  different  Meafures  to  try  it 
by,  and  find  in  it  a  Conformity  to,  have  a  Tafk 
that  they  will  not  accomplifti. 

Thofe  that  I  am  fpeaking  of,  will  indeed 
make  fome  Ufe  of  Scripture,  io  far  as  they  think 
it  ferves  their  Turn  i  but  d^u't  make  Ufe  of  it 


^ 


PaPvT  I.  the  lower  End.  ^ 

--Qione,  as  a  Rule  fufficient  by  it  felf,  but  make 
as  much,  and  a  great  deal  more  Ufe  of  other 
Things,  diverfe  and  wide  from  it,  to  judge  of 
this  Work  by.     As  particularly, 

I .  Some  niake  Philofophy  inftead  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures^  their  Rule  of  judging  of  this  Work  ; 
particularly  the  Philofophical  Notions  they  enter- 
tain of  the  Nature  of  the  Soul,  its  Faculties  and 
AfFeflions.  Some  are  ready  to  fay,  ^' There  is 
'^  but  little  fober  folid  Religion  in  this  Work  :  it 
<^  is  little  elfe  but  Flafh  and  Noife.  Religion 
''  now-a-Days  all  runs  out  into  Tranfports  and 
"  high  Flights  of  the  Paffions  and  Affe6tions.'^ 
In  their  Philofophy,  the  AiFecSlions  of  the  Soul 
are  fomething  diverfe  from  the  Will,  and  not 
appertaining  to  the  nobleft  Part  of  tlie  Soul,  but 
the  meancft  Principles  that  it  has,  that  belong 
to  Men  as  partaking  of  animal  Nature,  and 
what  he  has  in  common  with  the  Brute  Cre- 
ation, rather  than  any  Thing  whereby  he  is 
conformed  to  Angek  and  pure  Spirits,  And 
tho'  they  acknowledge  that  there  is  a  good  Ufe 
may  be  made  of  the  Affe6lions  in  Religion,  yet 
they  fuppofe  that  the  fubftantial  Part  of  Religion 
don't  confift  in  tliem,  but  that  they  are  rather 
to  be  looked  upon  as  fomething  adventitious  and 
accidental  in  Chriftianity. 

But  I  can't  but  think  that  thefe  Gentlemen  la- 
bour under  greatMiftakes,both  in  theirPhilofophy 
and  Divinity.  'Tis  true,  Diftin61:ion  muft  be 
made  in  theAffedtionsorPafTions.  There's  a  great 
deal  of  Difference  in  high  and  raifed  AfFedions,, 
which  muft  be  diftinguifhed  by  the  Skill  of  the 
B  Obfenxr. 


8  Of  Religion  conjijling         Part  I. 

Obferver.  Some  are  much  more  folid  than 
others.  There  are  many  Exercifes  of  the  Affec- 
tions that  are  very  flafhy,  and  httle  to  be  de- 
pended on  ;  and  oftentimes  tliere  is  a  great  deal 
that  appertains  to  them,  or  rather  that  is  the 
EfFeft  of  them,  that  has  its  Seat  in  animal  Na- 
ture, and  is  very  much  ov^ing  to  the  Conftitu- 
tion  and  Frame  of  the  Body  ;  and  that  which 
fometimes  more  efpecially  obtains  the  Name  of 
Paflion,  is  nothing  folid  or  fubftantial.  But  it  is 
falfe  Philofophy  to  fuppofe  this  to  be  the  Cafe 
with  all  Exercifes  of  AfFedlion  in  the  Soul,  or 
with  all  great  and  high  AfFeftions  ;  and  falfe  Di- 
vinity to  fuppofe  that  religious  Afteftions  don't 
appertain  to  the  Subftance  and  Eflence  of  Chjrifti- 
anity  :  On  the  contrarj^,  it  feems  to  me  that  the 
very  Life  and  Soul  of  all  true  Religion  corififts 
in  them. 

I  humbly  conceive  that  the  AfFedlions  of  the 
Soul  are  not  properly  diftinguifhed  from  the 
Will,  as  tho'  they  were  two  Faculties  in  the 
Soul.  All  Acts  of  the  Affedions  of  the  Soul  are 
in  fome  Senfe  Ads  of  the  Will,  and  all  Aas  of 
the  Will  are  Ads  of  the  Afteaions.  All  Exer- 
cifes of  the  Will  are  in  fome  Degree  or  other, 
Exercifes  of  the  Soul's  Appetition  or  Averfion  ; 
or  which  is  the  fame  Thing,  of  its  Love  or  Ha- 
tred. The  Soul  wills  one  Thing  rather  than 
another,  or  chufes  one  Thing  rather  than  ano- 
ther, no  otherwife  than  as  it  loves  one  Thing 
more  than  another  -,  but -Love  and  Hatred  are 
AfFeftions  of  the  Soul ;  and  therefore  all  A6ls  of 
the  Will  are  truly  Afls  of  the  AfFeaions ;  tho* 

the 


Part  I.     in  the  Pajfions  ^  Jffeffions.      g 

the  Exercife^  of  the.  Will  don't  obtain  the  Name 
of  Paffions,  unlefs  the  Will,  either  in  its  Aver- 
fion  or  Oppofition,  be  exercifed  in  a  high  De- 
gree, or  in  a  vigorous  and  lively  Manner. 

All  vv^ill  allows  that  true  Vertue  or  Holinefs 
has  its  Seat  chiefly  in  the  Heart,  rather  than  in 
the  Head :  It  therefore  follovv^s  from  what  has 
been  faid  already,  that  it  confifts  chiefly  in  holy 
Jffeaions.  The  Things  of  Religion  take  Place 
in  Men's  Hearts,  no  further  than  they  are  affiled 
with  them.  The  informing  of  the  Underftanding 
is  all  vain,  any  farther  than  it  affe^is  the  Heart  ; 
or,  which  is  the  fame  Thing,  has  Lifluence  on 
the  Affecficm. 

Thofe  Gentlemen  that  make  light  of  thefe 
raifed  AfFe6lions  in  Religion,  w^ill  doubtlefs  allow 
that  true  Religion  and  Holinefs,  as  it  has  its  Seat 
in  the  Heart,  is  capable  of  very  high  Degrees, 
and  high  Exercifes  in  the  Soul.  As  for  Inftance  ^ 
They  v/ill  doubtlefs  allov/  that  the  Holinefs  of  tj:ie 
Heart  or  Will,  is  capable  of  being  raifed  to  an 
hundred  Times  as  great  a  Degree  of  Strength  as 
it  is  in^  the  mofl:  eminent  Saint  on  Earth,  or  to 
be  exerted  in  an  hundred  Times  fo  flrong  anJ 
vigorous  Exercifes  of  the  Heart ;  and  yet  be  true 
Religion  or  Holinefs  frill,  but  only  in  an  high 
Degree.  Now  therefore  I  would  afk  them,  By 
what  Name  they  will  call  thefe  high  and  vigo- 
rous Exercifes  of  the  Will  or  Heart  ?  Ben't  they 
high  Afredions  ?  What  can  they  confift  in,  but 
in  high  Afts  of  Love  \  ftrong  and  vigorous  Exer- 
cifes of  Benevolence  and  Complacence  \  high, 
exalting  and  admiring  Thoughts  of  God  and  his 
B  2  Per- 


10  High  ^ranfprts.  Part  I. 

Perfeftions  ;  ftrong  Defires  after  God,  Jifc.  —  ? 
And  now  what  are  we  come  to  but  high  and  raifed 
AfFedions  ?  Yea,  thofe  very  fame  high  and  raifed 
AfFe£lions  that  before  they  objected  againfl,  or 
made  light  of,   as  worthy  of  Httle  Regard  ? 

I  fuppofe  furthermore  that  all  will  allow  that 
there  is  nothing  but  folid  Religion  in  Heaven  : 
But  that  there.  Religion  and  Holinefs  of  Heart 
is  raifed  to  an  exceeding  great  Height,  to  ftrong, 
high,  exalted  Exercifes  of  Heart.  Now  what 
other  Kinds  of  fuch  exceeding  ftrong  and  high 
Exercifes  of  the  Heart,  or  of  Holinefs  as  it  has 
its  Seat  in  their  Hearts,  can  we  devife  for  them, 
but  only  holy  Affecflions,  highDegrees  of  A6lings 
of  Love  to  God,  rejoicing  in  God,  admiring  of 

God,  i^c, ?  Therefore  thefe  Things  in  the 

Saints  and  Angels  in  Heaven,  are  not  to  be  de- 
fpifcd  and  cafliierM  by  the  Name  of  great  Heats 
and  Tranfports  of  the  Paffions. 

And  it  will  doubtlefs  be  yet  further  allowed, 
that  the  more  eminent  the  Saints  are  on  Earth, 
and  the  ftronger  their  Grace  is,  and  the  higher 
its  Exercifes  are,  the  more  they  are  like  the 
Saints  in  Heaven.  /.  e.  (by  what  has  been  juft 
nov/  obferved,)  the  more  they  have  of  high  or 
raifed  AfFecSlions  in  Religion. 

Tho'  there  are  falfe  AfFe6lIons  in  Religion, 
and  AfFedions  that  in  fome  Refpeds  are  raifed 
high,  that  are  flaftiy,  yet  undoubtedly  there  are 
alfo  true,  holy  and  folid  Affections;  and  the  higher 
thefe  are  raifed,  the  better  :  and  if  they  are  raifed 
to  an  exceeding  great  Height,  they  are  not  to  be 
thought  meanly  of  or  fufpefted,  mcerly  becaufe 

of 


^ART  I.  High  Tranfprts,.  i.i 

of  their  great  Degree,  but  on  the  contrary  to  be 
efteemed  and  rejoiced  in.  Charity,  or  divine 
Love,  is  in  Scripture  reprefented  as  the  Sum  of 
all  the  Religion  of  the  Heart ;  but  this  is  nothing  . 
but  an  holy  Affeclicn :  And  therefore  in  Propor- 
tion as  this  is  firmly  fixed  in  the  Soul,  and  raifed 
to  a  great  Height,  the  more  eminent  a  Perfon  is 
in  Hollnefs.  Divine  Love  or  Charity  is  repre- 
fented as  the  Sum  of  all  the  Religion  of  Heaven, 
and  tliat  wherein  mainly  the  Religion  of  the 
Church  in  its  more  perfe6l  State  on  Earth  fhall 
confift,  v^hen  Knowledge,  and  Tongues,  and 
Prophefyings  fhall  ceafe  ^  and  therefore  the  higher 
this  holy  Affe6lion  is  raifed  in  the  Cburch  of 
God,  or  in  a  gracious  Soul,  the  more  excellent 
and  perfecSl:  is  the  State  of  the  Church,  or  a  par- 
ticular Soul. 

If  we  take  the  Scriptures  for  our  Rule,  then 
the  greater  an  Jliigher  are  the  Exercifes  of  Love 
to  God,  Delight  and  Complacence  in  God^ 
Defires  and  Longings  after  God,  Delight  in  the 
Children  of  God,  Love  to  Mankind,  Broken- 
nefs  of  Heart,  Abhorrence  of  Sin,  and  Self-ab- 
horrence for  Sin  ;  and  the  Peace  of  God  which 
pafTeth  all  Underftanding,  and  Joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  Joy  unfpeakable  and  full  of  Glory  ;  admi- 
ring Thoughts  of  God,  exulting  and  glorying  in 
God  i  fo  much  the  higher  is  Christ's  Reli- 
gion, or  that  Vertue  which  he  and  his  Apoftles 
taught,  raifed  in  the  Soul. 

^  It  is  a  Stumbling  to  Ibme  that  religjous  AfFec- 
tions  fhould  feem  to  be  fo  powerful,  or  that,  they 
(hould  be  fo  violent  (as  they  exprefs  it^)  in  fome 

B  3  Pel-     i 


1^        12  Bodily  Efe5fs.  Part  I. 

Perfons  :  They  are  therefore  ready  to  doubt  whe- 
ther it  can  be  the  Spirit  of  God,  or  whether  this 
Vehemence  ben't  rather  a  Sign  of  the  Operation 
of  an  evil  Spirit.  But  why  fhould  fuch  a  Doubt 
arife  from  no  other  Ground  than  this  ?  What  is 
reprefented  in  Scripture,  as  more  powerful  in  its 
Effefts,  than  the  Spirit  of  God  ?  which  is^there- 
f  iore  Q?i\hd  the  Power  of  the  htghejt^  Luk.    i.   35, 

^  And  its  faving  EfFeft  in  the  Soul  called  the  Power 

%  cf  Godlinefs.     So  we  read  of  the  Demonjiratlon  of 

I  the  Spirit^  and  of  Poiver^   I  Cor.  2.  4.  And  it  is 

-  faid  to  operate  in  the  Minds  of  Men  with  the 

I  exceeding  Greatnefs  of  Divine  Power ^   and  accord- 

ing to  the  zvorki7ig  of  GOD' s  mighty  Pozuer^  Eph. 
1 .  1 9.  So  we  read  o^the  effe^ual  zuorking  of  his 
Power^'E^h.  3.  7.  And  of  the  Power  that  ivork- 
eth  in  Chrijlians^  v.  2C.  "  And  of  the  Glorious 
Power  of  God  in  the  Operations  of  the  Spirit, 
CoL  I.  II.  And.  oi the  TVork  of^  Faith,  its  be- 
ing wrought  z^///^  P^xt;^r,  2  Thef.  I.  II.  and  in 
2  Tim.  I.  7.  The  Spirit  of  God  is  called  the 
Spirit  of  Poiver,  and  Lcve^  and  of  a  found  Mind, 
So  the  Spirit  is  reprefented  by  a  mighty  Wind, 
and  by  Fire^  Things  moft  powerful  in  their  Ope- 
ration. 

2.  Many  are  guilty  of  not  taking  the  holy 
Scriptures  as  a  fufficient  and  whole  Rule,  where- 
by to  jucfjs  of  this  Work,  whether  it  be  -^thfe  ^ 
Work  of  God,  in  that  they  judge  by  thofe 
Things  which  the  Scripture  don't  give 'as  any 
Signs  or  Marks  whereby  to  judge  one  Way  or 
the  other,  and  therefore  do  in  no  y/ife  belong  to 
the  Scripture-Rule  gf  judging,  viz.  The  EfFe£ls 

that 


Part  I.  Bodily  EffeEls.  13 

that  religious  Exercifes  and  AfFedlons  of  Mind 
have  upon  the  Body.  Scripture  Rules  refpeft 
the  State  of  the  Mind,  and  Perfons  moral  Con- 
du6l,  and  voluntary  Behaviour,  and  not  the  phy- 
fical  State  of  the  Body.  The  Defign  of  the 
Scripture  is  to  teach  us  Divinity,  and  not  Phyfick 
and  Anatomy.  Minifters  are  made  the^Watch- 
men  of  Men's  Souls,  and  not  their  Bodies  ;  and 
therefore  the  great  Rule  which  God  has  com- 
mitted into  their  Hands,  is  to  make  them  Di- 
vines, and  not  Phyficians.  Christ  knew  what 
Inftruilions  and  Rules  his  Church  would  ftand  in 
Need  of  better  than  we  do  ;  and  if  he  had  i^tn 
\l  needful  in  order  to  the  Churches  Safety,  he 
doubtlefs  would  have  given  Minifters  Rules  to 
judge  of  Bodily  EfFedts,  and  would  have  told  'em 
how  the  Pulfe  fliould  beat  under  fuch  and  fuch 
religious  Exercifes  of  Mind  \  when  Men  fhould 
look  pale,  and  when  they  fhould  fhed  Tears  \ 
when  they  fliould  tremble,  and  whether  or  no 
they  fliould  ever  be  faint  or  cry  out  \  or  whether 
the  Body  fliould  ever  be  put  into  Convulfions  : 
He  probably  would  have  put  fome  Book  into  their 
Hands, that  fliould  have  tended  to  make  them  ex- 
cellent Anatoniifts  and  Phyficians:  But  he  has 
not  done  it,  'tx^jcaufe  he  did  not  fee  it  to  be  need- 
ful. He  judged,  that  if  Minifters  thoroughly  did 
their  Duty  as  Watchmen  and  Overfeers  of  the 
State  and  Frame  of  Men's  Souls,  ^nd  of  their 
voluntary  Conduct,  according  to  the  Rules  he 
had  given,  his  Church  would  be  well  provided 
for,  as  to  its  Safety  in  thefe  Matters.  And  there- 
fore thofe  Minifters  of  Christ  and  Overfeers 

of 


14  Bcdtly  Effe£fs.  Part  L 

Qf  Souls,  that  bufy  themfelves,  and  are  full  of 
Concern  about  the  invohintary  Motions  of  the 
Fluids  and  Solids  of  Men's  Bodies,   and  from 
thence  full  of  Doubts  and  Sufpicions  of  the  Caufe, 
when  nothing  appears  but  that  the  State  and 
Frame  of  their  Minds,  and  their  voluntary  Be- 
haviour is-good,  and  agreeable  to  God's  Word  ; 
I  fay 5  fuch  Minifters  go  out  of  the  Place  that 
Christ  has  fet  them  in,  and  leave  their  proper 
Bufinefs,   as  much  as  if  they  fhould  undertake  to 
tell  who  are  under  the  Influence  of  the  Spirit  by 
their  Looks,   or  their  Gate.     I  can't  fee  which 
Way  we  are  in  Danger,  or  how  the  Devil  is  like 
to  get  any  notable  Advantage  againft  us,  if  we 
do  but  thoroughly  do  our  Duty  with  Refpedi  to 
thofe  tW9  Things,  viz.    The  State  of  Perfons 
Minds,  and  their  moral  Conduct,  feeing  to  ft 
that  they  be  maintained  in  anAgreeablenefs  to  the 
Rules  that  Christ   has  given  us.     If  Things 
are  but  kept  right  in  thefe  Refpe£ls,  our  Fears 
and  Sufpicions  arifmg  from  extraordinary  bodily 
EfFecls  feem  wholly  groundlefs. 

The  moft  fpecious  Thing  that  is  alledged 
agaim'l  thefe  extraordinary  Eftefts  on  the  Body, 
is  that  the  Body  is  impaired  and  Health  wronged  ; 
and  that  it's  hard  to  think  thxat  God,  in  the  mer- 
ciful Influences  of  his  Spirit  on  Men, would  woynd 
their  Bodies,  and  impair  their  Health.  But  if  it 
were  (o  pretty  commonly  or  in  multiplied  Inftan- 
ces,  (which  i  don't  fuppofe  it  is,)  that  Perfons 
received  a  lalling  Wound  to  their  Health  by  ex- 
traordinary religious  Impreffions  made  upon  their 
Minds,  yet  'tis  too  much  for  us  to  determine 

that 


Part  I.  Bodtly  EffeSls'.  ^  15 

that  God  fhall  never  bring  an  outward  Cala- 
mitv,  in  beftowing  a  vaftly  greater  fpiritual  and 
eternal  Good.  Jacob  in  doing  his  Duty  in 
wreftling  with  God  for  the  Blefling,  and  while 
God  was  itriving  with  him,  at  the  lame  Time 
that  he  received  the  Bleffing  from  God,  juffer'd 
a  great  outward  Calamity  from  his  Hand  j  God 
impaired  his  Body  {o  that  he  never  got  over  it  as 
long  as  he  lived  :  He  gave  him  the  Bleffing,  but 
fent  him  away  halting  on  his  Thigh,  and  he  went 
lame  all  his  Life  after.  And  yet  this  is  not  men- 
tioned as  if  it  wxre  any  Diminution  of  the  great 
Mercy  of  God  to  him,  when  God  bleffed  him, 
and  he  received  his  Name  Ifrael^  becaufe  as  a 
Prince  he  had  Power  with  God,  and  had  pre- 
vailed. 

But,  fay  fome,  The  Operations  of  the  Spirit 
of  God  are  of  a  benign  Nature;  nothing  is  of 
a  more  kind  Influence  on  human  Nature  than 
the  merciful  Breathings  of  God's  own  Spirit. 
But  it  has  been  a  Thing  generally  fuppofed  and 
allowed  in  the  Church  of  God,  till  now,  that 
there  is  fuch  a  Thing  as  being  fick  of  Love  to 
Christ,  or  having  the  bodilyStrength  weakened 
by  ftrong  and  vigorous  Exercifes  of  Love  to  him. 
And  however  kind  to  human  Nature  the  Influ- 
ences of  the  Spirit  of  God  are,  yet  no  Body 
doubts  but  that  divine  and  eternal  Things,  as 
they  may  be  difcovered,  would  overpower  the 
Nature  of  Man  in  its  prefent  weak  State  ;  and 
that  therefore  the  Body  in  its  prefent  Weaknefs, 
is  not  fitted  for  the  Views  and  Pleafures  and  Em- 
ployments of  Heaven  :  and  that  if  God  did  dif- 

cover 


i6  Bodily  Effe£ls,  Part  I. 

cover  but  a  little  of  that  which  is  feen  by  the 
Saints  and  Angels  in.  Heaven,  our  frail  Natures 
would  fink  under  it.  Indeed  I  know  not  what 
Perfons  may  deny  now,  to  defend  themfelves  in 
a  Caufe  they  have  had  their  Spirits  long  engaged 
in  ;  but  I  know  thefe  Things  don't  ufe  to  be 

denied,  or  doubted  of. Let  us  rationally  con- 

lider  what  we  profefs  to  believe  of  the  infinite 
Greatnefs  of  the  Things  of  God,  the  divine 
Wrath,  the  divine  Glory,  and  the  divine  infinite 
Love  and  Grace  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  the 
Vaftnefs  and  infinite  Importance  of  theThings  of 
Eternity  ;  and  how  reafonable  is  it  to  fiippofe 
tliat  if  it  pleafes  God  a  little  to  withdraw  the 
Vail,  and  let  in  Light  into  the  Soul,  and  give 
fomething  of  a  View  of  the  great  Things  of  ano- 
ther World  in  their  tranfcendent  and  infinite 
Greatnefs,  That  human  Nature,  that  is  as  the 
Grafs,  a  (haking  Leaf,  a  weak  withering  Flower, 
fhould  totter  under  fuch  a  Difcovery  ?  Such  a 
Bubble  is  too  weak  to  bear  the  Weight  of  a 
View  of  Things  that  are  fo  vaft.  Alafs  !  What 
is  fuch  Duft  and  Aflies,  that  it  ftiould  fupport 
it  felf  under  the  View  of  the  awful  Wrath  or 
infinite  Glory  and  Love  of  JEHOVAH  !  No 
Wonder  therefore  that  it  is  faid,  A^^  Man  can  fee 
me  and  Uve^  and  Flejh  and  Blood  ca7inot  inherit  the 
Kingdom  of  GOD.  That  externalGlory  &Majefly 
of  Christ  which  Daniel  faw,  when  there  re- 
mained no  Strength  in  him^  and  his  Comelinefs  was 
turned  in  him  into  Corruption^  Dan.  ic  6,  7,8^ 
And  which  the  Apoftle  John  faw,  when  he  fell 
at  his  Feet  as  dead  ;  was  but  an  Image  or  Shadow 

of 


Part  I.         Effects  on  the  Body.  17 

of  that  fpiritual  Glory  and  Majefty  of  Christ, 
which  will  be  manifefted  in  the    Souls   of  the 
Saints  in  another  World,  and  which  is  fome- 
times,    in  fome  Degree,  manifefted  to  the  Soul 
in  this  World,  by  the  Influences  of  the  Spirit  of 
God.     And  if  the  beholding  the  Image,  and  ex- 
ternal   Reprefentation   of  this  fpiritual  Majefty 
and  Glory,  did  fo  overpower  human  Nature,  is  it 
unreafonable  to  fuppofe  that  a  Sight  of  the  fpiri- 
tual Glory  it  felf,  which  is  the  Subftance,   of 
which  that  was  but  the  Shadow,   fhould  have  as 
powerful  an  Effedt  ?    The  Prophet  Habakkuk^ 
ipeaking  of  the  awful  Manifeftations  God  made 
of  his  Majefty  and  Wrath,  at  the  Red  Sea,  and 
in  the  Wildernefs,  and  at  Mount  5/;/^/,  where 
he  gave  the  Law  ;  and  of  the  merciful  Lifluence, 
and  ftrong  Impreflion  God  caufed  it  to  have  up- 
on him,  to  the  End  that  he  might  be  faved  from 
that  Wrath,  and  reft  in  the  Day  of  Trouble  ; 
fays,  Hab.   3.   16.   TFhen  I  heard  my  Belly  trem- 
bled^ my  Lips  quivered  at  the  Voice ^  Rottemiefs  en- 
tered into  my  Bones  y  1  trembled  in  my  felf  ^   that  I 
might  rejl  in  the  Day  of  Trouble.     Which  is  much 
Aich  an  Effefl  as'tlie  Difcovery  of  the  fame  Ma- 
jefty and  Wrath,  in  the  fame  awful  Voice  from 
Mount  Sinai ^  has  had  upon  many  in  thefe  Days  ; 
and  to  the  fame  Purpofes,  viz.  to  give  'em  Reji 
in  the  Day  of  Trffubky  and   fave  'era  from  that 
Wrath.     The  PfaJmift  alfo  fpeaks  of  verv  much 
fuch  an  Effed:  as  I  have  often  {qqh  on  Perfons 
under  religious  AiFedions  of  iate,  Pfal.    iiq, 
131.  I  opened  my  Mmib  and  panted^  for  I  longed 
for  thj/  Ccmmandments. 

God 


1 8  Effe^s  on  the  Body.         Part  I. 

God  is  pleafed  (bmetimes  In  dealing  forth  fpi- 
ritual  Bleflings  to  his  People,  in  fome  Refpeft  to 
exceed  the  Capacity  of  the  VefTel,  in  its  prefent 
Scantinefs,  fo  that  he  don't  only  fill  it  full,  but 
he  makes  their  Cup  to  run  over ;  agreeable  to  Pfal. 
23.  5,  And  pours  out  a  Bleffing,  fometimes,  in 
fuch  a  Manner  and  Meafure  that  there  is  not 
Room  enough  to  receive  it,  MaL  3.  10.  and 
gives  'em  Riches  more  than  they  can  carry  away  ; 
as  he  did  to  ^ehojhaphat^  and  his  People  in  a  Time 
of  great  Favour,  by  the  Word  of  his  Prophet 
'Jehaziel  in  Anfwer  to  earneft  Prayer,  when  the 
People  blefled  the  Lord  in  the  Valley  of  Berachah^ 
2  Chron.  20.  25,  26.  It  has  been  with  the 
Difciples  of  Christ,  for  a  long  Time,  a  Time 
of  great  Emptinefs  upon  fpiritual  Accounts  ; 
They  have  gone  hungry,  and  have  been  toiling 
in  vain,  during  a  dark  Seafon,  a  Time  of  Night 
with  the  Church  of  God  ;  as  it  was  with  the 
Difciples  of  old,  when  they  had  toiled  all  Night 
for  fomething  to  eat  and  caught  nothing,  Luk,  5. 
5,  and  7<:7^.  21.  3.  But  now,  the  Morning  be- 
ing come,  Jesus  appears  to  his  Difciples,  and 
takes  a  compaflionate  Notice  of  their  Want§, 
and  fays  to  'em,  Children  have  ye  any  Meat  ?  And 
gives  fome  of  them  fuch  abundance  of  Food,  that 
they  are  not  able  to  draw  their  Net ;  yea,  fo 
that  their  Net  breaks,  and  their  Veflel  is  over- 
loaded, and  begins  to  fmk  ;  as  it  was  v/ith  the 
Difciples  of  old,  Luk.  5.  6,  7.  and  Joh.  21.  6. 

We  can't  determine  that  God  never  ftiall  give 
anyPerfonfomuch  ofaDifcovery  of  himfelf,not  on- 
ly as  to  weaken  theirBodies,but  to  take  away  their 

Lives. 


Part  I.         EffeSls  on  the  Body.  19 

Lives.  'Tis  fappofcd  by  very  learned  and  judi- 
cious Divin'es,  that  Mofes's  Life  was  taken  away 
after  this  Manner  j  and  this  has  alfo  been  fuppo- 
fed  to  be  the  Cafe  with  fome  other  Saints.  Yea, 
I  don't  fee  any  folid  fare  Grounds  any  have  to 
determinejthat  God  ihall  never  make  fuch  ftrong 
'Impreflions  on  the  Mind  by  his  Spirit,  that  fhall 
be  an  Occafion  of  fo  impairing  the  Frame  of  the 
Body,  and  particularly  that  Part  of  the  Body,  the 
Brain,  that  Perfons  fhall  be  deprived  of  the  Ufe 
of  Reafon.  As  I  faid  before,  it  is  too  much  for 
us  to  determine,  that  God  will  not  bring  an 
<:)utward  Calamity  in  beftowing  fpiritual  and  eter- 
nal Bleflings  :  fo  it  is  too  much  for  us  to  deter- 
mine, how  great  an  outward  Calamity  he  will 
bring.  If  God  gives  a  great  Increafe  of  Difco- 
veries  of  himfelf,  and  of  Love  to  him,  the  Bene- 
fit is  infinitely  greater  than  the  Calamity,  tho* 
the  Life  fliould  prefently  after  be  taken  away  ; 
yea  tho*  the  Soul  fhould  not  immediately  be 
taken  to  Heaven,  but  fhould  He  fomc  Years-ih 
a  deep  Sleep,  and  then  be  taken  to  Heaven :  Or, 
which  is  much  the  fame  Thing,  if  it  be  de- 
prived of  the  Ufe  of  its  Faculties,  and  be  un- 
aftive  and  unferviceable,  as  if  it  lay  in  a  deep 
Sleep  for  fome  Years,  and  then  fhould  pafs  into 
Glory.  We  cannot  determine  how  great  a  Ca- 
lamity Diflradlion  is,  when  confidered  with  all 
its  Confequences,  and  all  that  might  have  been 
confequent,  if  the  Diflradion  had  not  happened  ; 
nor  indeed  whether,  (thus  confidered)  it  be  any 
Calamity  at  all,  or  whether  it  be  not  a  Mercy, 
by  preventing  fomc  great  Sin,  or  fome  more 
C  dreadfii 


^.o  Effe£is  on  the  Body:         Part  I. 

dreadful  Things  if  it  had  not  been.  'Tis  a  great 
Fault  in  us  to  limit  a  fovereign  all- wife  God, 
whofe  Judgments  are  a  great  Deep,  and  his 
Ways  paft  finding  out,  where  he  has  not  limi- 
ted himfelf,  and  in  Things,  concerning  which, 

he  has  not  told  us  what  his  Way  fhall  be. 

'Tis  remarkable,  confidering  in  v/hat  Multitudes 
of  Inflances,  and  to  how  great  a  Degree,  the 
Frame  of  theBody  has  been  over-powered  of  late, 
that  Perfons  Lives  have  notwithftanding  been  pre- 
ferved,  and  that  the  Inftances  of  thofe  that  have 
been  deprived  of  Reafon  have  been  fo  very  few, 
and  thofe,  perhaps,  all  of  them,  Perfons  under 
the  peculiar  Disadvantage  of  a  weak,  vapoury 
Habit  of  Body.  A  merciful  and  careful  divine 
Hand  is  very  manifeft  in  it,  that  in  fo  many  In- 
ftances where  the  Ship  has  begun  to  fmk,  yet  it 

has  been  upheld,  and  has  not  totally  funk. 

I'he  Inftances  of  fuch  as  have  been  deprived  of 
Reafon  are  fo  few,  that  certainly  they  are  not 
enough  to  caufe  us  to  be  in  any  Fright,  as  tho' 
this  Work  that  has  been  carried  on  in  the  Coun- 
try, was  like  to  be  of  baneful  Influence  ;  unlefs 
we  are  difpofed  to  gather  up  all  that  we  can  to 
darken  it,  and  fet  it  forth  in  frightful  Colours. 

There  is  one  particular  Kind  of  Exercife  and 
Concern  of  Mind,  that  many  have  been  over- 
pov/ered  by,  that  has  been  efpecially  ftumbling 
to  fome  ;  and  that  is  the  deep  Concern  and  Dif- 
trefs  that  they  have  been  in  for  the  Souls  of  ethers. 
I  am  forry  that  any  put  us  to  the  Trouble  of  do- 
ing that  which  feems  fo  needlefs,  as  defending 
fuch  a  Thing  as  this.     It  feems  like  meer  trifling 

in 


Part  I.  Biftrefs  for  others.  21 

in  {o  plain  a  Cafe,  to  enter  into  a  formal  and 
particular  Debate,  in  order  to  determine  whether 
there  be  any  thing  In  the  Greatnefs  and  Impor- 
tance of  the  Ciife  that  will  anfwer,  and  bear  a 
Proportion  to  the  Greatnefs  of  the  Concern  that 
fome  have  manifcfted.  Men  may  be  allowed', 
from  no  higher  a  Principle  than  common  Inge- 
nuity and  Humanity,  to  be  very  deeply  con- 
cerned, and  greatly  exercifed  in  Mind,  at  the 
feeing  others  in  great  Danger,  of  no  greater  a 
Calamity  than  drowning,  or  being  buriTt:  up  in 
an  Houfe  on  Fire.  And  if  {o^  then  doubtlefs  it 
will  be  allow'd  to  be  equally  reafbnable, if  they  faw 
them  in  Danger  of  a  Calamity  ten  Times  greater, 
to  be  ftill  much  more  concern'd  \  &  fo  much  more 
ftill,  if  the  Calamity  was  ftill  vaftly  greater.  Aiid 
why  then  fhould  it  be  thought  unreafonable,  and 
looked  upon  with  a  very  fufpicious  Eye,  as  if  it 
muft  come  from  fome  bad  Caufe,  when  Perfons 
are  extremely  concerned  at  feeing  others  in  verv 
great  Danger  of  fufFering  the  Fiercenefs  and 
Wrath  of  Almighty  GOD,  to  all  Eternity  ? 
And  befides  it  will  doubtlefs  be  allowed  that  thofe 
that  have  very  great  Degrees  of  the  Spirit  of 
GOD,  that  is  a  Spirit  of  Love,  may  well  be  fup- 
pofed  to  have  vaftly  more  of  Love  and  Coni- 
paffion  to  their  Fellovz-Creatures,  than  thofe  that 
are  influenced  only  by  common  Humanity.  \\^hy 
fliould  it  be  thought  ftrange  tha.t  thofe  that  are 
full  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  ftiould  be  proporri- 
onably,  in  their  Love  to  Souls,  hketo  Chr'ist  ? 
who  had  fo  ftrong  a  Love  to  them  and  Concern 
for  them,  as  to  be  willing  to  drink  the  Dregs  of 
C  2  the 


2  2  Dijlrefs  for  ethers.         Part  I. 

the  Cup  of  GOD's  Fury  for  them  ;  and  at  the 
fame  Time  that  he  offered  up  his  Blood  for 
Souls,  offered  up  alfo,  as  their  High  Prieft,  ftrong 
Crying  and  Tears,with  an  extremeAgony,  where- 
in the  Soul  of  Christ  was  as  it  v/ere  in  Tra- 
vail for  the  Souls  of  the  Elecl  3  and  therefore  in 
faving  them  he  is  faid  to  fee  of  the  Travail  of  his 
Soul.  As  fuch  a  Spirit  of  Love  to,  and  Concern 
for  Souls  v/as  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  fo  it  is  the 

^  Spirit  of  the  Church  ;  and  therefore  the  Church, 
in  defiring  and  feeking  that  Christ  might  be 
brought  forth  in  the  World,  and  in  the  Souls  of 
Men,  is  rcprefented,  Rejr.  12.  as  a  JVomcn  cry- 
ing^  travailing  in  Birth  ^  and  pained  to  he  delivered. 
The  Spirit  of  thofe  that  have  been  in  Diilrefs  for 
the  Souls  of  others,  fo  far  as  I  can  difcern,  feems 

;  not  to  be  different  from  that  of  the  Apoftle,  who 
travailed  for  Souls,  and  was  ready  to  vjijh  himfelf 
cccurfed  frojn  CHRIST  for  others.  And  that  of 
the  Pfalmift,  Pfal.  119.  53.  Horror  hath  taken 
hold  upon  me^  bec-aufe  of  the  JVicked  that  for  fake  tljy 
Laic,  And  v.  136.  Rivers  cf  Waters  run  dozen 
nine  Eyes,  h^caufe  they  keep  not  thy  Law,  And 
::i:it  of  the  Prophet  Jeremiah,  Jer.  4.  19.  My 
Byjuels!  my  Boivels !  I  am  pained  at  my  very 
Heart  !  My  Heart  maketh  a  Noife  in  me  !  I  can- 
-:t  hold  my  Peace  !  Becaufe  thou  hafi  heard,  O  my 
'^:ul,  the  Sound  of  the  Trumpet,  the  Alarm  of  ff^ar  f 
And  fo  Chap.  9.  i.  and  13.  17.  and  14.  17. 
and  Ifa.  22.  4.  We  read  of  Mcrdecai,  when 
he  faw  his  People  in  Danger  of  being  deftroyed 
v/itha  temporal  Deftruftion,  Ejlh,  4.  i.  That 
"^e  rent  his  Clothes^  and  put  en  Sackcloth  with  AJhes, 

and 


Part  I.     Extraordinary  Appearances.     23 

and  went  out  into  the  ?nidji  of  the  City,  and  cried 
with  a  loud  and  bitter  Cry.  And  why  then  fliould 
Perfons  be  thought  to  be  diftradled,  when  they 
can't  forbear  crying  out,  at  the  Confideration  of 
the  Mifery  of  thofe  that  are  going  to  eternal  De- 
ftrudion  ? 

3,  Another  Thing  that  fome. make  their  Rule 
to  judge  of  this  Work  by,  inftead  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  is  Hiftory,  or  former  Obfervation. 
Herein  they  err  two  Ways  ;  Fir  ft  ^  If  there  he 
any  Thing  new  and  extraordinary  in  the  Cir- 
cumftances  of  this  Work,  that  was  not  obferveJ 
in  former  Times,  that  ia  a  Rule  with  them  to 
rejedl  this  Work  as  not  the  Work  of  GOD. 
Herein  they  make  that  their  Rule,  that  GOD 
has  not  given  them  for  their  Rule  ;  and  limit 
GOD,  where  he  has  not  limited  himfelf.  Avd 
this  is  efpecially  unreafonable  in  this  Cafe :  For 
whofoever  has  well  weighed  the.  wonderful,  and 
myfterious  Methods  of  Divine  Wifdom,  in  car- 
rying on  the  Work  of  the  New  Creation,  or  in 
the  Progrefs  of  the  Work  of  Redemption,  from 
the  firft  Promife  of  the  Seed  of  the  Woman  to  ^ 
this  Time,  may  eafily  obferve  that  it  has  all  along 
been  GOD's  Manner  to  open  new  Scenes,  and. 
to  bring  forth  to  View  Things  new  and  wonder- 
ful, fuch  as  Eye  had  not  k^n^  nor  Ear  heard, 
nor  emtred  into  the  Heart  of  Man  or  Angels,  to 
the  Aftoniihment  of  Heaven  and  Earth,  not  only  ' 
in  the  Revelations  he  makes  of  his  Mind  and 
Will,  but  alfo  in  the  Works  of  his  Hands.  As 
the  old  Creation  was  carried  on  through  fix  Days, 
and  appeared  all  compleat,  fettled  in  a  State 'ot 
C  3  Reil 


24  New  Things.  Part  I. 

Reft  on  the  feventh  ;  fo  the  New  Creation,  which 
is  immenfely  the  greateft  and  moft  glorious  Work, 
is  carried  on  in  a  gradual  Progrefs,  from  the  Fall 
of  Man,  to  the  Confummation  of  all  Things,  at 
the  End  of  the  World.  And  as  in  the  Progrefs 
of  the  Old  Creation,  there  were  ftill  new  Things 
accomplifhed  \  new  Wonders  appeared  every  Day 
jM  the  Sight  of  the  Angels,  the  Speftators  of  that 
j^ork  J  while  thofe  Morning  Stars  fang  together, 
new  Scenes  were  opened  or  Things  that  they  had 
not  feen  before,  'till  the  whole  was  finiftied  ;  fo 
-it  is  in  the  Progrefs  of  the  New  Creation.  So 
that  that  Promife,  Ifa.  64.  4.  For  fmce  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Worlds  Men  have  not  heard^  nor  per- 
ceived by  the  Ear^  neither  hath  the  Eye  feen^  O 
GOD^  hejides  thee^  what  he  hath  prepared  for  him 
that  waiteth  for  him,  Tho'  it  had  a  glorious  Ful- 
filment in  the  Days  of  Christ  and  the  Apoftles, 
as  the  Words  are  applied,  \  Cor,  2,  g.  Yet  it 
always  remains  to  be  fulfilled,  in  Things  that  are 
yet  behind,  'till  the  New  Creation  is  finifhed, 
at  Christ's  delivering  up  the  Kingdom  to  the 
Father.  And  we  live  in  thofe  latter  Days,  where- 
in we  may  be  efpecially  warranted  to  expecft  that 
Things  will  be  accomplifhed,  concerning  which 
it  will  be  faid,  TVho  hath  heard  fuch  a  Thing? 
Who  hath  feen  fuch  Things  P 

.And  befides  thofe  Things  in  this  Work  that 
have  been  chiefly  complained  of  as  new,  are  not 
fo  new  as  has  been  generally  imagined  :  Tho' 
they  have  been  much  more  frequent  lately,  in 
Proportion  to  the  uncommon  Degree,  Extent  and 
Swiftnefs,  ?iid  Qth^r  extraordinary  Circumftances 

of 


Part  I .     Things  falfely  fuppofed  new.      Z5 

of  the  Work,  yet  they  are  not  new  in  theirKind  ; 
but  are  Things  of  the  fame  Nature  as  have  been 
found  and  well  approved  of  in  the  Church  of 
GOD  before,  from  Time  to  Time. 

We  have  a  remarkable  Inftance  in  Mr.  Bolton^ 
that  noted  Minifter  of  the  Church  of  England^ 
who  being  awaken'd  by  the  preaching  of  the 
famous  Mr.  Perkins^  Minifter  of  Christ  in  the 
Univerfity  of  Cambridge^  was  fubjeft  to  fuch 
Terrors  as  threw  him  to  the  Ground,  and  caufed 
him  to  roar  with  Anguifh  ;  and  the  Pangs  of 
the  New-Birth  in  him  were  fuch,  that  he  lay 
pale  and  without  Senfe,  like  one  dead  ;  as  we 
have  an  Account  in  the  Fulfilling  of  the  Scripture^ 
the  5th  Edition,  p.  103,  104.  We  have  an 
Account  in  the  fame  Page  of  another,  whofe 
Comforts  under  the  Sun-ftiine  of  GOD's  Pre- 
fence  were  fo  great,  that  he  could  not  forbear 
crying  out  in  a  Tranfport,  and  exprefling  in  Ex- 
clamations, the  great  Senfe  he  had  of  forgiving 
Mercy  and  his  Affurance  of  GOD's  Love.  And 
we  have  a  remarkable  Inftance  in  the  Life  of 
Mr.  George  Trojfe^  written  by  himfelf  (who,  of  a 
notorioufly  vicious  profligate  Liver,  became  an 
eminent  Saint  and  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel,)  of 
Terrors  occafion'd  by  Awakenings  of  Confcience, 
fo  overpowering  the  Body,  as  to  deprive,  for  fome 
Time,  of  the  Ufe  of  Reafon. 

Yea,  fuch  extraordinary  external  EiFe6ts  of  in- 
ward Impreffions  have  not  only  been  to  be  found  in 
here  and  there  a  fingle  Perfon,  but  there  have 
alfo  before  now  been  Times  wherein  many  have 
been  thus  affe^^ed,,  in  i^xt^^  particular  Parts  of 

the 


y6     Former  Infiances  of  crying  out^     Pa.  I. 

theChurch  of  God  ;  &TuchEffe£ls  have  appeared 
,^in  Congregations,  in  many  at  once.     So  it  was 
-in  the  Year  1625,  in  the  Weft  of  Scotland^  in  a 
Time  of  great  Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  of  GOD. 
It  was  then  a  frequent  Thing  for  many  to  be 
fo  extraordinarily  feized  with  Terror  in  the  hear- 
ing of  the  Word,  by  the  Spirit  of  GOD  con- 
vincing them  of  Sin',  that  they  fell  down,  and 
were  carried  out  of  the  Church,  who  afterwards 
proved  moft  folid  and  lively  Chriftians  ;  as  the 
Author  of  the  Fulfilling  of  the  Scripture  informs 
us,  p.   185.     The  fame  Author  in  the  preceding 
Page,  informs  of  many  in  France  that  were  fo 
wonderfully  affefted  with  the  Preaching  of  the 
Gofpel,  in  the  Time  of  thofe  famous  Divines 
Farel  and  Viret^  that  for  a   Time^  they  could 
not  follow  their  fecular  Bufmefs.     And  p.  186. 
of  many  in  Ireland^  in  a  Time  of  great  Out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  there,  in  the  Year  1628, 
that  were  fo  filled  with  Divine  Comforts,   and  a 
Senfe  of  GOD,  thnt  they  made  but  little  Ufe  of 
either  Meat,  Drink  or  Sleep,   and  profeffed  that 
they  did  not  feel  the  Need  thereof.     The  fam.e 
Author  gives  an   Account  of  very   much  fuch 
Things  in  Mrs.  Catherine  Brettergh  of  Lancajhire 
m  England^   (p.   391.   392.)  as  have  been  cried 
out  of,  here  amongft  us,  as  wild  and  diftrafted  : 
how  that  after  great  Diftrefs,   which  very  much 
afFecled  her  Body,  the  Sweat  fometimes  burfting 
but  upon  her,  GOD  did  fo  break  in  upon  her 
Mind  with  Light  and  Difcoveries  of  himfelf,  that 
fhe  was  forced  to  burft  out,  crying^  '^  O  the 
^^  Jovs,  the  Joys,  the  Joys,  that  I  feel  in  my 

'«  Soul  f 


P.I.  FalUngdown^bigblranfports^&cc.    27 

*^  Soul  !  O  they  be  wonderful,  they  be  wonder- 
<*  ful  !  The  Place  where  I  now  am  is  fweet  and 
♦^  pleafant !  How  comfortable  is  the  Sweetnefs 
^^  I  feel,  that  delights  my  Soul  !  The  Tafte  is 
**  precious  ;  do  you  not  feel  it  ?  Oh  fo  fweet  as 
•^  it  is  !  ''  And  at  other  Times,  «^  O  my  fweet 
♦*  Saviour,  fhall  I  be  one  with  thee,  as  thou  art 
*^  one  with  the  Father  ?  And  doft  thou  fo  love 
''  me  that  am  but  Duft,  to  make  me  Partaker 
'^  of  Glory  with  Christ  ?  O  how  wonderful 
*  ^  is  thy  Love  !  And  Oh  that  my  Tongue  and 
^'  Heart  were  able  to  found  forth  thy  Praifes  as 
«'  I  ought."  At  another  Time  ftie  burft  forth 
thus  ;  *'  Yea  Lord,  I  feel  thy  Mercy,  and  I  am 
^'  aiiuredof  thyLove  !  And  fo  certain  am  I  there- 
*'  of,  as  thou  art  that  GOD  of  Truth  :  even  fo 
'^  certainly  do  I  know  my  felf  to  be  thine,  O 
^^  LORD  my  GOD  ;  and  this  mySoul  knoweth 
"  right  well!"  Which  laft  Words  fhe  again 
doubled-  To  a  grave  Minifter,  one  Mr.  Harris 
fm,  then  with  her,  fhe  faid,  ^'  My  Soul  hath 
*^  been  compafled  with  the  Terrors  of  Death, 
''  the  Sorrows  of  Hell  were  upon  me,  and  a 
*'  Wildernefe  of  Woe  was  in  me  ;  but  blefled, 
«  bleffed,  blefled  be  the  LORD  my  GOD  ! 
"  he  hath  brought  me  to  a  Place  of  Reft,  even 
'*  to  the  fweet  running  Waters  of  Life.  The 
^'  Way  I  now  go  in  is  a  fweet  and  eafy 
*<  Way,  ftrowed  with  Flowers  ;  he  hath  brought 
'^  me  into  a  Place  more  fweet  than  the  Gar- 
*'  den  of  Eden,  O  the  Joy,  the  Joy,  the  De- 
'^  lights  and  Joy  that  I  feel !  O  how  wonder- 
''  ful  !  '^ 

Great 


2  8     Former  Injlances  of  crying  out^     Pa.  I. 

Great  Out-Cries  under  Awakenings  were  more 
frequently  heard  of  in  former  Times  in  the  Coun- 
try than  they  have  been  of  late,  as  fome  aged 
Perfons  now  Hving  do  teftify  :  Particularly  I  think 
fit  here  to  infert  a  Teflimony  of  my  honoured 
Father,  of  what  he  remembers  formerly  X.o  have 
heard. 

"  '^  I  wxil  remember  that  one  Mr.  Alexander 
Allyn^y  a  Scots  Gentleman  of  good  Credit, 
that  dwelt  formerly  in  this  Town,  {hewed  me 
a  Letter  that  came  from  Scotland^,  that  gave 
an  Account  of  a  Sermon  preached  in  the  City 
of  Edinburgh^  (as  I  remember)  in  the  Time 
of  the  fitting  of  the  general  Aflembly  o{  Di- 
vines in  that  Kingdom,  that  fo  afFefted  the 
People,  that  there  was  a  great  and  loud  Cry 
made  throughout  the  Aflembly.  I  have  alfo 
been  credibly  informed,  &  how  often  I  cannot 
now  fay,  that  it  was  a  common  Thing,  when 
the  famous  Mr.  John  Rogers  of  Dedham  in 
England  was  preaching,  for  fome  of  his  Hear- 
ers to  cry  out  ;  and  by  what  I  have  heard,  I 
conclude  that  it  was  ufual  for  many  that  heard 
that  very  awakening  and  roufing  Preacher  of 
GOD*s  Word,  to  make  a  great  Cry  in  the 
Congregation.'* 
Wind/or^  May  5. 

1742.  Timothy  Edwards. 

Mr.  Flavel  gives  a  remarkable  Inftanceofa 
Man  that  he  knew,  that  was  wonderfully  over- 
come with  divine  Comforts  ;  which  it  is  fuppo- 
fed  he   knew,   as  the  Apoftle  Paul  knew  the 

Man 


p.  I.  Falling  down,  high  Tranfpcrts^  &c.   29 

Man  that  was  caught  up  to  the  Third  Heaven. 
He  relates. 

That  '^  As  the  Perfon  was  travelling  alone, 
''  with  his  Thoughts  clofely  fixed  on  the  great 
'<-  and  aftonifhing  Things  of  another  World,  his 
'<^  Thoughts  began   to  fwell  higher  and  higher, 
''  like  the  Water  in  Ezekiel's  Vifion,  'till  at  laft 
''   they  became  an  overflowing  Flood  :  Such  was 
^^  the  Intenfenefs  of  his  Mind,  fuch  the  ravifli- 
''   ing  Tafles  of  heavenly  Joys,   and  fuch  his  full 
^'  AlTurance  of  his  Intereft  therein,  that  he  ut- 
"  terly  loft  all  Sight  &  Senfe  of  this  World,  &  the 
*'  Concernments  thereof ;  and  for  fome  Hours, 
^'  knew  not  where  he  was,  nor  what  he  was 
'^  about :  But  having  loft  a  great  Qiianti^y  of 
''  Blood  at  the  Nofe,  he  found  himfelf  fo  faint, 
^^  that  it  brought  him  a  little  more  to  himfelf. 
*'  And  after  he  had  wafhed  himfelf  at  a  Spring, 
'  "  and  drank  of  the  Water  for  his  Refreftiment, 
'^  he  continued  to  the  End  of  his  Journey,  which 
*^  was  Thirty  Miles  ;    and  all   this  while  was 
' '  fcarce  fenfible  :  And  fays  he  had  feveral  Trances 
*^  of  confiderable  Continuance.     The  fame  blef- 
'^  fed  Frame  was  prefer\'ed  all  that  Night,  and 
^^  m  2l  lower  Degree,   great  Part  of  the  next 
^'  Day:  The  Night  palTed  without  one  Wink 
''  of  Sleep';  and  yet  he  declares  he  never  had  a 
'^  fweeter  Night's  Reft  in  all  his  Life.     Still 
'^  adds  the  Story ^  The  Joy  of  the  Lord  over- 
^'  flowed  him,   and  he  feem'd  to  be  an  Inhabi- 
^'  tant  of  another  World.      And  he  ufed  for 
*'  many  Years  after  to  call  that  Day  one  of  the 
**  Days  of  Heaven  s  and  profefs'd  that  he  under- 

"  flood 


30         luftances  of  crying  cnl,  Sjc.      Pa.  I 

*^  flood  more  of  the  Life  of  Heaven  by  It,  than 
**  by  all  the  Books  he  ever  read,  or  Difcourfes 
*^  he  ever  entertain'd  about  it." 

There  have  been  Inftances  before  now,  of 
Perfons  crying  out  in  Tranfports  of  divine  Joy  in 
New- England,  We  have  an  Inftance  in  Capt. 
Cbp's  Memoirs,  publifhed  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Prince^  not  of  a  filly  Woman  or  Child,  but  a 
Man  of  folid  Underftanding,  that  in  a  high  Tran- 
fport  of  fpiritual  Joy,  was  made  to  cry  out  aloud 
on  liis  Bed.  His  Words  p.  9.  are,  '*  GOD's 
**  holy  Spirit  did  witnefs,  (I  do  believe)  together 
*^  with  my  Spirit  3  that  I  was  a  Child  of  GOD, 
*<  and  did  fill  my  Heart  and  Soul  with  fuch  full 
*'  AlTurance  that  Christ  was  mine,  that  it  did 
^^  fo  tranfport  me,  as  to  make  me  cry  out  upon 
*^  my  Bed,  wi til  a  loud  Voice,  He  is  come^  He 
'^  is  come  /  '* 

There  has,  before  now,  been  both  crying  out 
and  falling  down,  in  this  Town,  under  Awaken- 
ings of  Confcience,  and  in  the  Pangs  of  the  New- 
Birth,  and  alfo  in  fome  of  the  Neighbour  Towns. 
In  one  of  them,  more  than  feven  Years  ago,  was 
a  great  Number  together  that  cried  out  and  fell 
down,  under  Convidions  ;  in  moft  of  which,  by 
good  Information,  was  a  hopeful  and  abiding 
good  Iffue.  And  the  Rev.  Mr.  IViUiams  of  Deer- 
field  gave  me  an  Account  of  an  aged  Man  in  that 
Town,  many  Years  before  that,  that  being  awa- 
ken'd  by  his  Preaching,  cried  out  aloud  in  the 
Congregation.  There  have  been  many  Inftances 
in  this  and  fome  Neighbour  Towns,  before 
now,  of  Perfons  feinting  with  joyful  Difcoveries 

made 


[Vart  I.     .jgrcement  with  Enthujlajls.     51 

made  to  tlieir  Souls  :  once  feveral  together  in'this 
Town.  And  there  alfo  formerly  hzvQ  been  feve- 
ral Inftances  here,  of  Perfon's  Fiefh  waxing  cold 
and  benummb'd,  and  their  Hands  cHnch'd,  yea 
their  Bodies  being  fet  into  Convuifions,  being 
over-power'd  with  a  ftrong  Senfe  of  the  aftoniCi- 
ingly  great  and  excellent  Things  of  GOD  and 
the  Eternal  World. 

Secondly^  Another  Way  that  fome  err  in  ma- 
king  Hiftory  and  former  Obfervation  their  Rule 
to  judge  of  this  Work,  inftead  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
ture, is  in  comparing  fome  external,  accidental 
Circumftances  of  this  Work,  with  what  has  ap- 
pear'd  fometimes  in  Enthufiafts  ;  and  as  they  find 
an  Agreement  in  fome  fuch  Things,  fo  they  re- 
je<9:  the  whole  Work,  or  at  leaft  the  Subftance 
of  it,  concluding  it  to  be  Enthufiafm.  So,  great 
Ufe  has  been  made  to  this  Purpofe  of  many 
Things  that  are  found  amongft  the  fakers  ; 
however  totally  and  eflentially  different  in  its 
Nature  this  Work  is,  and  the  Principles  it  is 
built  upon,  from  the  whole  Religion  of  the  fa- 
kers. So,  to  the  fame  Purpofe,  fome  external 
Appearances  that  were  found  amongft  the  French 
Prophets^  and  fome  other  Enthufiafts-  in  former 
Times,  have  been  of  late  trump'd  up  with  great 
Afliirance  and  Triumph. 

4.  I  would  propofeit  to  be  confider'd.  Whe- 
ther or  no,  fome  inftead  of  making  the  Scriptures 
their  only  Rule  to  judge  of  this  Work,  don't 
make  their  own  Experience  the  Rule,  and  re- 
jedt  fuch  and  fuch  Things  as  are  now  profefled 
D  and 


j  2  Of  unjupy  judging  ?:.  ■  :  I 

•md  experienced,  becaufe  they  never  felt  'em 
themfelves.  Are  there  not  many,  that  chiefly  on 
this  Ground,  have  entertained  and  vented  Sulpi- 
cions,  if  not  peremptory  Condemnations  of  thofe 
extreme  Terrors,  and  thofe  great,  fudden  &extra- 
ordinary  Difcoveries  of  the  gloriousPerfecl:ions  of 
God,  and  of  the  Beauty  and  Love  of  Christ  ; 
and  fuch  vehement  AfFeftions,  fuch  high  Tran- 
jports  of  Lgve  and  Joy,  fach  Pity  and  Diftrefs 
for  the  Souls  of  others,  and  Exercifes  of  Mind 
that  have  fuch  great  Effe6is  on  Perfons  Bodies, 
meerly,  or  chiefly,  becaufe  they  knew  nothing 
about  'em  by  Experience  ?  Perfons  are  very  rea- 
dy to  be  fufpicious  of  what  they  han't  felt  them- 
felves. 'Tis  to  be  fear'd  many  good  Men  have 
been  guilty  of  this  Error  ;  which  yet  don't  make 
it  the  lefs  unreafonable.  And  perhaps  there  are 
feme  ^that  upon  this  Ground  don't  only  reject 
thefe  extraordinary  Things,  but  all  fuch  Con- 
viction of  Sin,  and  fuch  Difcoveries  of  the  Glory 
of  God,  and  Excellency  of  Christ,  and  inward 
Conviction  of  the  Truth  of  the  Gofpel,  by  the 
immediate  Influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  that 
are  now  fuppofcd  to  be  neceflary  to  Salvation. 

Thefe  Perfons  that  thus  make  their  own  Ex- 
yciienccs  their  Rule  of  Judgment,  inftead  of 
bov/incr  to  the  Wifdom  of  God,  and  yielding  to 
his  Vv^ord  as  ?sl  infallible  Rule,  are  guilty  of  cafl:- 
ing  a  great  Reflection  upon  the  Underftanding  of 
the  moit  High. 

III.  Another  Foundation-Error  of  thofe  that 
reiea  this  ^York,    is  their  not  duly  diftinguifliing 

the 


Part  I.         the  whole  by  a  Part.  ^      33 

the  Good  from  the  Bad,  and  very  unjuftly  judg- 
ing of  the  Whole  by  a  Part ;  and  fo  rejeaing  the 
Work  in  general,  or  in  the  main  Subllance  of  it, 
for  the  fake  of  fjme  Things  that  are  accidental 
to  it,  that  are  evil.      They  look  for  more  in. 
Men  that  are  divinely  influenced,  becaufe  fubjecl 
to  the  Operations  of  a  good  Spirit,  than  is  juftly 
to  be  expeded  from  them  for  that  Reafon,   in 
this  imperfea  State,  and  dark  World,  \vhere  fo 
much  Blindnefs  and  Corraption  remains  in  the 
beft.     When  any  profefs  to  have  received  Light 
and  Influence  and  Comforts  from  Heaven,  and  to 
have  had  fenfible  Communion  with  God,   many 
are  ready  to  expect  that  now  they  appear  like 
Angels,  and  not  flill  like  poor,  feeble,  blind  and 
fmful  Worms  of  the  Duft.    There  being  fo  much 
Corruption  left  in  the  Hearts  of  God's  own 
Children,  and  its  prevailing  as  it  fometimes  do^s^ 
is  indeed  a  myfterious  Thing,   and  always  was  a 
Stumbling-Block  to  the  World  ;  but  won't  be  (o 
much  wondred  at  by  thofe  that  are  well  verftJ 
in,  and  duly  mindful  of,  two  Things,  viz.   Firft^ 
the  Word  of  Go^j,  which  teaches  us  the  State  of 
true  Cbriftians  in  this  World,  c^nd  Secofidly^  their 
own  Hearts,  at  leaft  if  thev  have  any  Grace,  and 
.  have  Experience  of  its  Confiifts  with  Corruption. 
They  that  are  true  Saints  are  moft  inexcufeable 
in  making  a  great  Difficulty  of  a  great  deal  of 
Blindnefs,  and  many  Imful  Errors  in  thofe  that 
profefs  Godlinefs.     If  all  our  Conduft,  both  open 
and  fecret,  fliould  be  known,  and  our  Hearts  laid 
open  to  the  World,  how  fhould  we  be  even  ready 
to  fly  from  the  Light  of  the  Sun,  and  hide  our 
D  7,,  felvqs 


34      ^Of  imjujily  judging.  6<c.     Part  1. 

felves  from  the  View  of  Mankind  !  And  what 
great  Allowances  would  it  be  found  that  we 
flioukl  need,  that  others  fhould  make  for  us  ? 
perhaps  much  greater  than  we  are  v/illing  to  make 
lor  others.. 

The  great  Weaknefs  of  the  bigger  Part  of 
Mankind,  in  any  Afrarir  that  is  new  and  uncom- 
mon, appears  in  not  diftinguiihing,  but  either  ap- 
proving or  condemning  all  in  the  Lump.  Tiiey 
that  highly  approve  of  the  AfFair  in  general,  can't 
bear  to  have  any  Thing  at  all  found  Fault  with  ; 
and  on  the  other  Hand,  thofe  that  fallen  their 
Eyes  upon  fome  Things  in  the  Affair  that  are 
amifs,  and  appear  very  difagreeable  to  them,  at 
once  reject  the  whole.  Both  which  Errois  often- 
times ariTe  from  want  of  Perfons  due  Acquain- 
tance with  themfelves.  It  is  rafh  and  unjuft  when 
we  proceed  thus  in  judging  either  of  a  particular 
Perfon,  or  a  People,  or  of  fuch  an  Affair  as  the 
prefent  wonderful  Influence  on  the  Minds  of  the 
People  of  this  Land.  Many  if  they  fe:^  any  Thing 
very  ill  in  a  particular  Perfon,  a  Minifler  or  pri- 
vate Profeffor,  will  at  once  brjnd  him  as  an  Hy- 
pocrite. And  if  there  be  two  or  three  of  a  Peo- 
ple or  Society  that  behave  themfelves  very  irre- 
gularly, the  whole  muft  bear  the  Blame  of  it* 
And  if  there  be  a  few,  tho'  it  may  be  not  above 
One  in  an  Hundred,  that  profeffed,  and  had  a 
Shew  of  being  the  happy  Partakers  of  what  are 
called  the  faving  Benefits  of  this  Work,  that 
prove  naught,  and  give  the  World  juft  Grounds 
to  fufpeft  'em,  the  whole  Work  muft  be  rejected 
on  their  Account ;   and  thofe  in  general,  that 

make 


Part  L      Good  may  he  accidentally        35. 

make  the  like  Profeflion  muft  be  condemned  for 
their  Sakes. 

So  careful  are  fome  Perfons  left  this  Work 
ftiould  be  defended,  that  now  they  will  hardly 
allow  that  the  Influences  of  the  Spirit  of  God  on 
the  Heart,  can  fo  much  as  indirectly,  and  acci- 
dentally, be  the  Occafion  of  the  Exercife  of  Cor- 
ruption, and  Commiffion  of  Sin. Thus  far  is 

true.  That  the  Influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in 
his  faving  Operations,  won't  be  an  Occafion  of 
the  Increafe  of  the  Corruption  of  the  Heart  in 
general,  but  on  the  contrary,  of  the  weakening 
of  it :  But  yet  there  is  nothing  unreafonable  in 
fuppofing,  that  at  the  fame  Time  that  it  weakens 
Corruption  in  general,  it  may  be  an  Occafion  of 
the  turning  what  is  left  into  a  new  Channel,  and 
fo  of  there  being  more  of  fome  certain  Kinds  of 
the  Exercife  of  Corruption  than  there  was  be- 
fore ;  as  that  which  tends  to  hinder  and  ftop  the 
Courfe  of  a  Stream^  if  it  don't  do  it  wholly,  may 
give  a  new  Courfe  to  (o  much  of  the  Water  as 
gets  by  the  Obftacle.    The  Influences  of  the  Spi- 
rit, for  Inftance,  may  be  an  Occafion  of  new 
Ways  of  the  Exercife  of  Priae,  as  has  been  ac- 
knowledged by  orthodox    Divines    in   general. 
That  fpiritual  Difcoveries  and   Comforts   may, 
through  the  Corruption  of  the  Heart,  be  an  Oc- 
cafion of  the  Exercifes  of  fpiritual  Pride,  don*t 
ufe  to  be  doubted  of,  'till  now  it  is  found  to  be 
needful  to  maintain  the  War  againft  this  Work. 

They  that  will  harldly  allow  that  a  Work  of 

the  Spirit  of  God  can  be  a  remote  Occafion  of 

any  finfu]  Behaviour  or  unchiiftiaa  ConducS-,.  I 

D  2  fuppofe 


^6  anOccafionof  Evil         Part  I. 

fuppofe  will  allow  that  the  truly  gracious  Influ- 
ences of  theSpirit  of  GoDjyea  and  an  highDegree 
of  Love  to  God,  is  confiftent  with  thefe  two 
Things,  vi%.  A  confiderable  Degree  of  remain- 
ing Corruption,  and  alfo  many  Errors  in  Judg- 
ment In  Matters  of  Religion,  and  in  Matters  of 
Praftice.  And  this  is  all  that  need  to  be  allowed, 
in  order  to  its  being  moft  demonftratively  evident, 
that  a  high  Degree  of  Love  to  God  may  acci- 
dentally move  a  Perfon  to  that  which  is  very 
wrong,  and  contrary  to  the  Mind  and  Will  of 
God.  For  a  high  Degree  of  Love  to  God  will 
ftrongly  move  a  Perfon  to  do  that  which  he  be- 
lieves to  be  agreeable  to  God's  Will ;  and  therer 
,fore,  if  he  be  miftaken,  and  be  perfwaded  that 
That  is  agreeable  to  the  Will  of  God,  which 
indeed  is  very  contrary  to  it^  then  his  Love  will 
accidentally,  but  ftrongly,  incline  him  to  that, 
which  is  indeed  very  contrary  to  the  WiU  of 
God. 

They  that  are  ftudied  in  Logick  have  learned 
that  the  Nature  of  the  Caufe  is  not  to  be  judged 
of  by  the  Nature  of  the  Effed,  nor  the  Nature 
of  the  EfFea  from  the  Nature  of  the  Caufe, 
when  the  Caufe  Is  only  Caufa  fine  qua  mn^  or  an 
occafional  Caufe  ;  yea,  that  in  fuch  a  Cafe,  often- 
times the  Nature  of  the  Eflfecl  is  quite  contrary 
to  the  Nature  of  the  Caufe. 

True  DIfciples  of  Christ  may  have  a  great 
deal  of  falfe  Zeal,  fuch  as  the  Difclples  had  of 
old,  when  they  would  have  Fire  called  for  from 
Heaven  to  come  down  on  the .  Samaritans^  be- 
caufe  thev  did  not  receive  them.  And  even  fo 
'  eminently  • 


Par.  I.     Error  join  d  ^vith  true  Zeal.     37 

eminently  holy,  and  great,  and  divine  a  Saint  as 
Mofes^  who  converfed  with  GOD  from  Time 
to  Time,  as  a  Man  fpeaks  with  his  Friend,  and 
concerning  whom  GOD  gives  his  Teftimony, 
that  he  was  very  meek  ^  above  any  Man  upon  the  Face 
of  the  Earth  ^yet  may  be  rafh  and  fmful  in  hisZeal, 
when  his  Spirit  is  ftirred  by  the  Hard-heartednefs 
and  Oppofition  of  others,  fo  as  to  fpeak  very  un- 
advifedly  with  his  Lips,  and  greatly  to  ofFend 
GOD,  and  fhut  himfelf  out  from  the  Poffeffion 
of  the  good  Things  thai:  GOD  is  about  to  ac- 
complifh  for  his  Church  on  Earth  ;  as  Mofes  was 
e^jcluded  Cariaan^  tho'  he  had  brought  the  People 
out  of  Egypt^  Pfal.  106.  32,  33.  And  Men, 
even  in  thofe  very  Things  wherein  they  are  in- 
flui^nced  by  a  truly  pious  Principle,  yet,  through 
Error  and  want  of  due  Confideration  and  Cauti- 
on, may  be  very  rafh  with  their  Zeal.  It  was  a 
truly  good  Spirit  that  animated  that  excellent  Ge- 
neration of  Ifrael  that  v/as  in  Jojhua's  Time^  in 
that  Affair  tliat  we  have  an  Account  of  in  the 
2 2d  Chapter  of  Jo/Ima  ;  and  yet  they  were  rafh 
and  heady  with  their  Zeal,  to  go  about  to  gather 
all  Ifrael  together  to  go  up  fo  furioully  to  War 
with  their  Brethren  of  the  two  Tribes  and  half, 
about  their  building  the  Altar  Ed^  without  firft 
enquiring  into  the  Matter,  or  fo  much  as  fending 
a  -AlefTenger  to  be  informed.  So  the  Chrhlians 
that  were  of  the  Circumcifion,  with  Warmth 
and  Contention  condem^ned  Peter  for  receiving 
Cornelius  J  as  we  have  Account,  jlcf,  1 1 .  This 
their  Heat  and  Cenfure  vns  unjuft,  and  Peter  was 
wronged  in  iti  but  there  is  all  Appearance  in  the 

Story 


38     Imprudences  ^  Irregularities.      Pa.  L 

Story  that  they  afted  from  a  real  Zeal  and  Con- 
cern for  the  WiU  and  Honour  of  God.     So  the 
primitive  Chriftians,  from   their  Zeal  for,  and 
againft  unclean  Meats,  cenfured  and  condemned 
one  another  :  This  was  a  bad  EfFedl,  and  yet  the 
Apoftle  bears  them  Witnefs,  or  at  leaft  exprefles 
his  Charity  towards  them,   that  both  Sides  adied 
from  a  good  Principle,  and  true  Refpcdl  to  the 
Lord,   Rom.   iji^.  6.  The  Zeal  of  the  C^r/«//??/^7»j 
with  Refpeft  to    the   inceftuous  Man,    tho'  the 
Apoftle  highly  commends  it,   yet  at  the   fame 
Time  faw  that  they  needed  a  Caution,    left  they 
fhould  carry  it  too  far,  to  an  undue  Severity,  and 
fo  as  to  fail  of  Chriftian  Meeknefs  and  Forgive- 
nefs,  2  Cor,  2.  6,  7,  8,  9,   10,   11.  and  Chap. 
7.    II.  to  the  End. Luther  t\\?it  great  Refor- 
mer had  a  great  deal  of  Bitternefs  widi  his  Zeal. 
It  furely  cannot  be  v/onderM  at  by  confiderate 
Perfons,  that  at  a  Time  when  Multitudes  all  over 
the  Land  have  their  AfFeflions  greatly  moved, 
that  great  Numbers  ftiould  run  into  many  Errors 
and  Miftakcs  with  Refpeil  to  their  Duty,  and 
confequently  into  many  Afts  and  Praciices  that 
are  imprudent  and  irregular.     I  queftion  whether 
there  be  a  Man  in  New-England^  of  the  ftrongeft 
Reafcn  and  greateft  Learning,  but  what  would 
be  put  to  it  to  keep  Mafter  of  himfelf,  thoroughly 
to  weigh  his  Words,  and  confider  all  the  Confe- 
quences  of  his  Behaviour,  fo  as  to  behave  himfiftf 
in  all  Refpedfe  prudently,  if  he  were  fo  ftroi^y 
imprefled  with  a  Senfe  cf  divine  and    eternal 
Things,  and  his  Affedlions  fo  exceedingly  moved, 
as  has  been  frequent  of  late  among  the  common 


Pa.  L      Impritdences  £5?  Irregularities,      39 

People. How  little  do  they  ccnfider  Human 

Nature,  who  look  upon  it  fo  infuperable  a  Stum* 
bling-Block,  v/hen  fuch  Multitudes  of  all  Kinds 
of  Capacities,  natural  Tempers^  Educations,  Cuf- 
(ons  and  Manners  of  Life,  are  fo  greatly  and 
varioufiy  affeded,  that  Imprudences  and  Irregu- 
larities of  Conduit:  fhould  abound  ;  efpecially  in  a 
State  of  Things  fo  uncommon,  and  when  the 
Degree,  Extent,  Swiftnefs  and  Power  of  the 
Operation  is  fo  very  extraordinary,  and  fo  new, 
that  there  has  not  been  Time  and  Experience 
enough  to  give  Birth  to  Rules  for  People's  Con- 
duit, and  fo  unufjal  in  Times  paft,  that  the  Wri- 
tings of  Divines  don't  afford  Rules  to  dire<5l  us  in 
fuch  a  State  of  Things  ? 

A  great  deal  of  Noife  and  Tumult,  Ccnfufion 
and  Uproar,  and  Darknefs  mixed  with  Light, 
and  Evil  with  Good,  is  always  to  be  expefted  in 
the  beginning  of  fomething  very  extraordinary, 
and  very  glorious  in  the  State  of  Things  in  hu- 
man Society,  or  the  Chureh  of  God.  As  after 
Nature  has  long  been  fhut  up  in  a  cold  dead 
State,  in  Time  of  Winter,  when  the  Sun  re- 
turns in  the  Spring,  there  is,  tog^ether  v/ith  gthe 
Increafe  of  the  Light  and  Heat  of  the  Sun,  very 
dirty  and  tempeftuous  Weather,  before  all  is  fet- 
tled xalm  and  ferene,  and  all  Nature  rejoices  in 
its  Bloom  and  Beauty.  It  is  in  the  New-Creation 
as  it  was  in  the  Old,  the  Spirit  of  God  firft  mo- 
ved upon  the  Face  of  the  Waters,  which  was  an 
Occafion  of  great  Uproar  and  Tumult,  and 
Things  were  gradually  brought  to  a  fettled  State, 
'till  at  length  all  flood  forth  in  that  beautiful, 

peace- 


40      Confujion  in  the  beginning  of    Part  I. 

peaceful  Order,  when  the  Heavens  and  the  Earth 
were  finifhed,  and  God  faw  every  Thing  that 
he  had  made,  and  behold  it  was  very  good.  When 
God  is  about  to  bring  to  pafs  fomething  great 
and  glorious  in  the  World,  Nature  is  in  a  Fer- 
ment and  Struggle,  and  the  World  as  it  werein 
Travail.  As  when  God  was  about  to  introduce 
the  Mejfiah  into  the  World,  and  that  new  and 
glorious  Difpenfation  that  he  fet  up,  he  Jhook  the 
Heavens  and  the  Earthy  and  Jhook  all  Nations* 
There  is  nothing  that  the  Church  of  God  is  in. 
Scripture  more  frequently  reprefented  by   than 

Vegetables  ;  as  a  Tree,  a  Vine,  Corn,  b'r. 

which  gradually  bring  forth  their  Fruit,  and  are 
firft  green  before  they  are  ripe.  A  great  Revival 
of  Religion  is  exprefsly  compared  to  this  gradual 
Produftion  of  Vegetables,  Ifa.  6i.  ii.  As  th 
Earth  bringeth  forth  her  Bud^  and  as  the  X^arden 
caufeth  the  Things  that  are  fown  in  it  to  fpring 
forth  ;  fo*  the  Lord  God  will  caufe  Right eoiifnefs 
and  Praife  to  fpring  forth  before  all  the  Nations. 
The  Church  is  in  a  fpecial  Manner  compared  to 
a  Palm-Tree,  Cant.  7.  7,  8.  Exod.  15.  27. 
I  King.  6.  29.  Pfil'  92.  12.  Of  which  Tree 
this  peculiarThins;  is  obferved.  That  the  Fruit  of 
it,  tho'  it  be  very^fweet  and  good  when  it  is  ripe, 
yet,  before  it  has  had  Time  to  ripen,  has  a  Mix- 
ture of  Poifon. 

The  Weaknefs  of  human  Nature  has  always  ' 
appeared  in  Times    of   great  Revival  .of  Reli- 
gion, by  a  Difpofition  to  run  to  Extreams  and  ■ 
get  into  Confufion  ;  and  efpecially  in  thefe  three 
Things,  Enthufiafm,  Superftition,  and  intempe- 
rate '. 


Part  I .     a  grfat  Revival  of  Religion.     4.  i 

rate  Zeal.  So  it  appeared  in  the  Time  of  the 
Reformation,  very  remarkably  ;  and  alfo  in  the 
Days  of  the  Apoftles ;  many  were  then  exceed- 
ingly difpofed  to  lay  Weight  on  thofe  Things  that 
were  very  Notional  and  Chimerical,  giving  Heed 
to  Fables  and  Whimfies,  as  appears  by  i  T/w. 
I.  4.  and  4.  7.  2  Ti?7i.  2.  16.  and  v.  23.  and 
Tit.  I.  14.  and  3.  9.  Many,  as  Ecclefiaftical 
Hirtory  informs  us,  fell  off  into  the  moft  wild 
Enthufiafm,  and  extravagant  Notions  of  Spiritu- 
ality, and  extraordinary  Illumination  from  Hea- 
ven beyond  others  ;  and  many  were  prone  to  Su- 
perftition,  Will-Worfliip  and  a  voluntary  Humi- 
lity, giving  Heed  to  the  Commandments  of  Men, 
being  fond  of  an  unprofitable  bodily  Exerclfe,  as 
appears  by  many  PaiTages  in  the  Apoftles  Wri- 
tings :  And  what  a  Pronenefs  then  appeared 
among  Profeflbrs  to  fwerve  from  the  Path  of 
Puty,  and  the  Spirit  of  the  Gofpel,  in  the  Exer- 
cifes  of  a  rafli  indifcreet  Zeal,  cenfuring  and  con- 
•demning  Minifters  and  People  ;  one  faying,  I  am 
ofj^aul,  another  I  of  ApolloSy  another  I  of  Ce- 
phas ;  judging  one  another  for  Differences  of 
Opinion  about  fmaller  Matters,  unclean  Meats, 
holy  Days  and  holy  Places,  and  their  different 
Opinions  and  Praftices  refpecling  civil  Intercourfe 
and  Communication  with  their  Heathen  Neigh- 
bours ?  And  how  much  did  vain  Jangling  and 
Difputing  and  Confufion  prevail  through  undue 
Heat  of  Spirit,  under  the  Name  of  a  religious 
Zeal  ?  2  Tim.  6.  4,  5.  2  Ti?n.  2.  16.  and  Ttt, 
3.  9.  And  what  a  Tafk  had  the  Apoftles  to  keep 
them  within  Bounds,  and  maintain  good  Order 

ia 


42      "That  there  are  many  Errors     Part  L. 

in  the  Churches^  How  often  are  they  mention- 
ing their  Irregularities  ?  The  prevailing  of  fuch 
like  Diforders  feems  to  have  been  the  fpecial  Oc- 
cafion  of  writing  many  of  their  Epiftles.  The 
Church  in  that  great  Effufion  of  the  Spirit  that 
was  then,  and  the  ftrong  Impreffions  that  God's 
People  were  then  under,  was  under  the  Care  of 
infallible  Guides,  that  watched  over  them  Day 
and  Night  j  but  yet  fo  prone  were  they,  through 
the  Weaknefs  and  Corruption  of  human  Nature, 
to  get  out  of  the  Way,  that  Irregularity  and  Con- 
fufion  rofe  in  fome  Churches,  where  there  was 
an  extraordinary  Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit,  to  a 
very  great  Height,  even  in  the  Apoftles  Life- 
time, and  under  their  Eye.  And  tho'  fome  of 
the  Apoftles  liv'd  long  to  fettle  the  State  of  Things, 
yet  prefently  after  they  were  dead,  the  Chriftian 
Church  ran  into  many  Superftitions  and  childifh 
Notions  and  Practices,  and  in  fome  Refpeds  in- 
to a  great  Severity  in  their  Zeal.  Wnd  let  any 
wife  Perfon  that  han't,  in  the  midft  of  the  Dif- 
putes  of  the  prefent  Day,  got  beyond  the  C^m- 
nefs  of  Confideration,  impartially  confider  to  what 
Lengths,  we  may  reafonably  fuppofe,  many  of 
the  primitive  Chriftians,  in  their  Heat  of  Zeal, 
and  under  their  extraordinary  Impreffions,  would 
foon  have  gone,  if  they  had  had  no  infpired 
Guides  ;  and  whether  or  no  'tis  not  probable  that 
the  Church  of  Corinth  in  particular,  by  an  In- 
creafe  of  their  Irregularities  and  Contentions, 
would  net  in  a  little  Time  have  broke  to  Pieces, 
and  diflblved  in  a  State  of  the  utmoft  Confufion  ? 
and  yet  tliis  would  have  been  ao  Evidence  that 

there 


Part  I.       is  not  to  be  wondered  at.        43 

there  had  not  been  a  moft  glorious  and  remark- 
able Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  in  that  City.  But 
as  for  us,  we  have  no  infallible  Apoftle  to  guide 
and  direft  us,  to  reftify  Diforders,  and  reclaim 
us  when  we  are  wandring  ;  but  every  one  does 
what  is  right  in  his  own  Eyes  ;  and  they  that  err 
in  Judgment,  and  are  got  into  a  wrong  Path, 
continue  to  wander,  till  Experience  of  the  mif- 
chievous  Iffue  convinces  them  of  their  Error. 

If  we  look  over  this  Affair,  and  ferioufly  weigh 
it  in  its  Circumftances,  it  will  appear  a  Matter 
of  no  great  Difficulty  to  account  for  the  Errors 
that  have  been  gone  into,  fuppollng  the  Work  in 
general  to  be  from  a  very  great  Out-pouring  of 
the  Spirit  of  God.  It  may  eafily  be  accounted 
for,  that  many  have  run  into  great  Errors,  and 
into  juft  fuch  Errors  as  they  have.  It  is  known, 
that  fome  that  have  been  improved  as  great  In- 
ftruments  to  promote  this  Work,  have  been  very 
young  ;  and  how  natural  is  it  for  fuch  as  are 
themfelves  newly  'waked  out  of  Sleep,  and  bro't 
out  of  that  State  of  Darknefs,  Infenfibility  and 
fpiritual  Death,  which  they  had  been  in  ever 
fince  they  were  born  ;  and  have  a  new  and  won- 
derful Scene  opened  to  them  ;  and  have  in  View 
the  Reality,  the  Vaftnefs,  and  infinite  Impor- 
tance,and  Nearnefs  of  fpiritual  &  eternalThings  ; 
and  at  the  fame  Time  are  furprized  to  fee  the 
World  afleep  about  them  ;  and  han't  theAdvan- 
tage  of  Age  and  Experience,  and  have  had  but 
little  Opportunity  to  ftudy  Divinity,  or  to  con-- 
verfe  with  aged  experienced  Chriftians  and  Di- 
vines 1 1  fay, how  natural  is  it  for  fuch  to  fall  into 
E  many 


44       ^^(^^  Errors  as  have  heen^     Part  I. 

.many  Errors  with  Refpecl  to  the  State  of  Man- 
kind, with  which  they  are  fo  furprized,  and  with 
Refped  to  the  Means  and  Methods  of  their  Re 
lief?  Is  it  any  Wonder  that  they  han't  at  once 
learned  how  to  make  all  the  Allowances  that  are 
to  be  made,  and  that  they  don't  at  once  find  out 
that  Method  of  dealing  with  the  World,  that  is 
adapt^  to  the  myfterious  State  and .  Nature  of 
Mankind  ?  Is  it  any  Wonder  that  they  can't  at 
once  forefee  what  the  Confequences  of  Things 
will  be,  what  Evils  are  to  be  guarded  againft, 
and  what  Difficulties  are  like  to  arife,  that  are  to 
be  provided  for  ? 

We  have  long  been  in  a  flrange  Stupor  ;  the 
Influences  of  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  the  Heart  f 
have  been  but  little  felt,   and  the  Nature  of  them  | 
but  little  taught ;  fo  that  they  are  in  many  Re-^  | 
fpecls  new  to  great  Numbers  of  thofe  that  have ' 
lately  fallen  under  them.     And  is  it  any  Wonder 
that  they  that  never  before  had  Experience  of 
the  fupernatural  Influence  of  the  Divine  Spirit 
upon  their  Souls,  and  never  wxre  inftrucled  in 
the  Nature  of  thefe  Lifluences,  don't  fo  well  know 
how  to  diftinguifii  one  extraordinary  new  Im- 
preffion  from  another,  rnd  fo  (to  themfelves  in- 
fenfibly)  run  into  Enthufiafm,  taking  ever}^  flrong 
Impulfe  or  Impreffion  to  be  divine  ?  How  natu- 
ral is  it  to  fuppofc,  that  among  the  Multitudes  of 
■ilhterate    People    (moft   of   which   are  in   their 
Youth)  that  find  themfelves  fo  wonderfully  chan- 
ged, and  brought  into  fuch  new,  and  before  (to 
diem)   almoft    unheard   of  Circumftances,    that  ;^ 
many  Ihould  pafs  wrong,  and  very  ftrange  Judg- 
ments 


\ 


Part  I.       not  to  he  wondered  cfh^         £^^ 

meats  of  both  Perfons  and  Things  that  are  about 
them  ;  and  that  now  they  behold  them  in  fuch  a 
new  Light,they  in  their  Surprize  fhould  go  further 
from  the  Judgment  that  they  were  wont  to  make 
of  them  than  they  ought,  &  in  their  great  Change 
of  Sentiments,  fhould  pafs  from  one  Extreme  to 
another  ?  And  why  fliould  it  be  thought  ftrange, 
that  thofe  that  fcarce  ever  heard  of  any  fuch 
Thing  as  an  Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
before  ;  or  if  they  did, had  no  Notion  of  it ;  don't 
know  how  to  behave  themfelves  in  fuch  a  new 
and  ftrange  State  of  Things  ?  And  is  it  any 
Wonder  that  they  are  ready  to  hearken  to  thofe 
that  have  inftrudled  them,  that  have  been  the 
Means  of  delivering  them  from  fuch  a  State  o^ 
Death  and  Mifery  as  they  were  in  before,  or 
have  a  Name  for  being  the  happy  Inftruments  of 
promoting  the  fame  Work  among  others  ?  Is  it 
unaccountable  that  Perfons  in  thefe  Circumftan- 
ces  are  ready  to  receive  every  Thing  they  fay, 
and  to  drink  down  Error  as  well  as  Truth  from 
them  ?  And  why  fhould  there  be  all  Indignation 
and  no  Compaffion  towards  thofe  that  are  tlius 
mifled  r 

When  thefe  Perfons  are  extraordinarily  alFecStcd. 
With  a  new  Senfe,and  recent  Difcovery  they  have 
received,  of  the  Greatnefs  and  Excellency  of  the 
divine  Being,  the  Certainty  and  infinite  Impor- 
tance of  eternal  Things,  the  Precioufnefs  of 
Souls,  and  the  dreadful  Danger  and  Madnefs  of 
Mankind,  together  with  a  great  Senfe  of  God's 
diftinguifhing  Kindnefs  and  Love  to  them  ;  no 
Wonder  that  now  they  think  they  mufl  exert 
E  2  them- 


4-6       Such -(Errors  as  have  been^     Part  I. 

themfelves,  and  do  fomething  extraordinary  for 
the  Honour  of  God  and  the  Good  of  the  Souls 
of  their  Fellow-Creatures,  and  know  not  how  to 
fit  ftill,  and  forbear  fpeaklng  and  ading  with  un- 
common Earneftnefs  and  Vigour.  And  in  thefe 
Ciicumftances,  if  they  ben't  Perfons  of  more 
than  common  Stead inefs  &  Difcretion,  or  ha'nt 
feme  Perfon  of  Wifdom  to  diredl  them,  'tis  a 
Wonder  if  they  don't  proceed  without  due  Cau- 
tion, and  do  Things  that  are  irregular,  and  that 
will,  in  the  Iffue,  do  much  more  Hurt  than 
Good. 

Cenfurlng  others  is  the  worft  Difeafe  with 
which  this  AiRir  has  been  attended  :  But  yet 
fach  a  Time  as  this  is  indeed  a  Time  of  great 
Temptation  to  this  finful  Error.  When  there 
has  been  fuch  a  Time  of  great  and  long  conti- 
nued Dcadnefs,  and  many  arc  brought  out  of  a 
State  of  Nature  into  a  State  of  Grace,  in  fo  ex- 
traordinary a  Manner,  and  filled  with  fuch  un- 
common Degrees  of  Light,  'tis  natural  for  fuc|i 
to  form  their  Notions  of  a  State  of  Grace  wholly 
tVom  what  they  experience  y  many  of  them  know 
no  other  Vv^'ay  ;  for  they  never  have  been  taught 
much  about  a  State  of  Grace,  and  the  different 
Degrees  of  Grace,  and  the  Degrees  of  Darknefs 
and  Corruption  that  Grace  is  confiftent  with,  nor 
concerning  the  Manner  of  the  Influences  of  the 
Spirit  in  converting  a  Soul,  and  the  Variety  of 
the  Manner  of  his  Operations  :  They  therefore 
forming  their  Idea  of  a  State  of  Grace  only  by 
their  own  Experience,  no  Wonder  that  it  ap- 
pears an  infuperable  DifEcuhy  to  them  to  re- 
concile" 


Part  L        not  to  he  wondered  at.         4.J 

concile  fuch  a  State,  of  which  they  have  this 
Idea,  with  what  they  obferve  in  ProfefTors  tliat 
are  about  them.  ^Tis  indeed  in  it  felf  a  vei*y^ 
great  Myftery,  that  Grace  fliould  be  confiftent 
with  fo  much  and  fuch  Kind  of  Corruption  as 
fometimes  prevails  in  the  truly  godly  ;  and  no 
Wonder  that  it  efpecially  appears  fo  to  unin- 
ftrufted  new  Converts,  that  have  been  converted 
in  an  extraordinary  Manner. 

Tho'  Cenforioufnefs  be  a  Thing  that  is  very 
finfiji^  and  is  moft  commonly  found-  in  Hypo-_ 
crites  and  Perfons  of  a  pharifaical  Spirit,  yet.  it 
is  not  fo  inconfiftent  with  true  Godlinefs  as  fame 
imagine.  We  have  remarkable  Inftances  of  it  in 
thofe  holy  Men  that  we  have  an  Account  of  in 
the  Book  of  Job  :  Not  only  were  Job's  three' 
Friends,  that  feem  to  have  been  eminently  holy 
Men,  guilty  of  it,  in  very  unreafonably  cenfuring 
the  beft  Man  on  Earth,  very  pofitively  determin- 
ing that  he  was  an  unconverted  Man  ;  But  Job  - 
himfelf,  that  was  not  only  a  Man  of  true  Piety^ 
but  excelled  all  Men  in  Piety,  and  particularly 
excelled  in  a  humble,  meek  and  patient  Spirit, 
was  guilty  of  bitterly  cenfuring  his  three  Friends^ 
as  wicked,  vile  Hypocrites.*  Job  16.  9,  10, 
1 1 .  He  teaYetJd  me  in  his  Wrath  wha  hai^ih  jne^  k^ 
gnajheth  upon  Jne  with  his  Teeth  ;'  mi^ir  'E^izerfiy 
Jharpencth  his  Eyes  upon  ?ne  :  They  have  gaped  u.pon 

VIC  with  their  Month, GOD  huth^delheredrnf 

to  the-  ungodly^  arid  turned  me  over  into  the  Hands  cf 
the  Wicked,  So  he  is  very  pcfitfve  m  it  that  they 
are  Hypocrites,  and  (hall  be  miferably  deftrove'i 
as  fuch,  in  the  next  Chapter,  v,  ^l  3^  4.  V^- 
E  3 


4S  Irregularities  no  Part  I, 

there  not  Mockers  with  me  ?  And  doth  not  mim  Eye 
continue  in  their  Provocation  ?  Lay  down  now^  put 
me  in  Surety  with  thee  ;  who  is  he  that  will  Jlr ike 
Hands  with  me  ?■  For  thou  haji  hid  their  Heart 
■fro?n  Vnderjiandlng  :  therefore  Jhalt  thou  not  exalt 
them.  And  again,  v.  8,  g,  lo.  Upright  Men 
jhallheaftGnifhedatthis^  and  the  Innocent  Jhall Jilr 
'Up  hlmfelf  againji  the  Hypocrite  :  The  Righteous 
alfo  Jhall  hold  on  his  Way^  and  he  that^  hath  clean 
Hands  Jhall  he  Jlronger  and  Jlronger,  But  as  for 
you  ally  do  you  return  and  come  now  :  for  1  cannot 
£nd  one  wife  Man  (i.  e.  one  good  Man)  among  you. 
Thiis  I  think  the  Errors  and  Irregularities  that 
.Liiend  this  Work,  may  be  accounted  for,  from 
tiie  Confideration  of  the  Infirmity  and  Weaknefs, 
and  common  Corruption  of  Mankind,  together 
with  the  Circumftances  of  the  Work,  tho'  we 
fhould  fuppofe  it  to  be  the  Work  of  God.  And 
it  would  not  be  a  juft  Objection  in  any  to  fay, 
if  thefe  powerful  Impreffions  and  great  AfFecSiions 
are  from  the  Spirit  of  God,  why  don^t  the  fame 
Spirit  give  Strength  of  Underftanding  and  Ca- 
pacity in  Proportion,  to  thofe  Perfons  that  are 
the  Subjefts  of  them  ;  fo  that  flrong  AfFeclions 
raay  not,  through  their  Error,  drive  them  to  ah 
-rregular  and  fmful  Condu6l  ?  For  I  don^t  know 
..:;t  God  has  any  where  obliged  himfelf  to  do 
it.  The  End  of  the  Influences,  of  God's  Spirit 
is  to  make  Men  fpixitually  know^ng,  wife  to  Sal- 
vation, v/hich  is  the  moft  excellentWifdom  ;  and 
he  has  alfo  appointed  Means  for  our  gaining  fuch 
Degrees  of  other  Knowledge  as  we  need,  to  con- 
dud  Qur  felve$  regularly,  which  Mea/is  fhould 

be 


Part  I.  fufficient  Obje^lion.  49 

be  carefully  ufed  :  But  the  End  of  the  Influence 
of  the  Spirit  of  God  is  not  to  increafe  Men's 
natural  Capacities,  nor  has  God  obliged  himfelf 
immediately  to  increafe  civil  Prudence  in  Pro- 
portion to  the  Degrees  of  fpiritual  Light. 

If  we  confider  the  Errors  that  attend  this 
Work,  not  only  as  from  Man,  and  his  Infirmity, 
but  alfo  as  from  God,  and  by  his  Permiffion  and 
Difpofal,  they  are  not  ftrange,  upon  the  Suppo- 
fition  of  its  being,  as  to  the  Subftance  of  it,  a 
Work  of  God.  If  God  intends  this  great  Re- 
vival of  Religion  to  be  the  daw^ning,  or  a  Fore- 
runner of  an  happy  State  of  his  Church  on  Earth, 
ft  may  be  an  Inftance  of  the  divine  Wifdom,  in 
the  beginning  of  it,  to  fijffer  fo  many  Irregulari- 
ties and  Errors  in  Condudl,  to  which  he  knew 
Men,  in  their  prefent  weak  State,  were  moft 
expofed,  under  great  religious  Aftections,  and 
when  animated  with  great  Zeal.  For  it  will  be 
very  likely  to  be  of  excellent  Benefit  to  his 
Church,  in  the  Continuance  and  Progrefs  of  the 
Work  afterwards :  Their  Experience  in  the  firft 
fetting  out,  of  the  mifchievous  Confequences  of 
thefe  Errors,  and  fmarting  for  them  in  the  Begin- 
ning, may  be  an  happy  Defence  to  them  after- 
wards, for  many  Generations,  from  thefe  Errors, 
which  otherwife  they  might  continually  be  ex- 
pofed to.  As  when  David  and  all  Ifrael  went 
about  to  bring  back  the  Ark  into  the  midft  of 
the  Land,  after  it  had  been  long  abfent,  firft  in 
the  Land  of  the  Philtjiines^  and  then  in  Kirjath- 
-jearim^  in  the  utmoft  Borders  of  the  Land  ;  they 
at  firft  fought  not  the  Lord  after  the  due  Order, 

and 


50  irregularities  no  Jtart  L 

and  they  fmarted  for  their  Error  ;  but  this  put  I 
them  upon  ftudying  the  Law,  and  more  tho- 
roughly acquainting  themfeh^es  with  the  Mind 
and  Will  of  God,  and  feeking  and  ferving  him  ' 
with  greater  Circumfpedion  ;    and  the  Confe- 
quence  was  glorious,  iiz,  their  feeking  God  in 
fuch  a  Manner  as  was  accepted  of  him  ;  and  the 
Ark  of  God's    afcending  into  the   Heights   of 
Ziorjy  with  thofe  great  and  extraordinary  Rejoi- 
cings of  the  King  and  all  the  People,  without 
any  Frown  or  Rebuke  fromGoD  intermixed  ;  and 
God's  dwelling  thenceforward  in  the  midft  of 
die  People,   to  thofe  glorious  Purpofes  that  are 
expreffed  in  the  68th  Pfalm. 

And  'tis  very  analogous  to  the  Manner  of 
God  dealing  with  his  People,  to  permit  a  great 
deal  of  Error,  and  fufFer  the  Infirmity  of  his  Peo- 
ple much  to  appear,  in  the  beginning  of  a  glori- 
ous Work  of  his  Grace  for  their  Felicity,  to  teach 
them  what  they  be,  to  humble  them,  and  fit 
them  for  that  glorious  Profperity  he  is  about  to 
advance  them  to,  and  the  more  to  fecure  to  him- 
felf  the  Honour  of  fuch  a  glorious  Wt)rk  :  For 
by  Man's  exceeding  Weaknefs  appearing  in  the 
beginning  of  it,  'tis  evident  that  God  don't  lay 
the  Foundation  of  it  in  Man's  Strength  or  WijG- 
dom*  ^.4. 

And  as  we  need  not  wonder  at  the  Erroi^  that 
attend  this  Work,  if  we  look  at  the  Hand  of 
Men  that  are  guilty  of  them,  and  the  Hand  of 
God  in  permitting  them*,  fo  neither  fhall-we  fee 
Caufe  to  wonder  at  them,  if  we  confider  them 
with  Regard  to  the  H^nd  tliat  Sataa  ha3  in  them. 

For 


Part  I.  Jiifficient  Obje£iion.  51 

For  as  the  Work  is  much  greater  than  any  other 
Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  that  ever  has  been  in 
New- England  ^{q  no  Wonder  that  the  Devil  is  more 
alarmed  and  enraged,  and  exerts  himfelf  more 
vigoroufly  againft  it,  and  docs  more  powerfully 
endeavour  to  tempt  and  miflead  thofe  that  are  the 
Subjeds  of  it,  or  are  its  Promoters. 

XVhatever  Imprudences  there  have  been,  and 
whatever  fmful  Irregularities  \  whatever  Vehe- 
mence of  the  PafTions,  and  Heats  of  the  Imagina- 
tions, Tranfports  and  Extacies  ;  and  whatever 
Error  in  Judgment,  and  indifcreet  Zeal ;  and 
whatever  Out-cries,  and  Paintings,  and  Agitati- 
ons of  Body  ;  yet  it  is  manifeft  and  notorious, 
that  there  has  been  of  late  a  very  uncommon  In- 
fluence upon  the  Minds  of  a  very  great  Part  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  New- England^  from  one  End 
of  the  Land  to  the  other,  that  has  been  attended 
with  the  following  Effects ;  viz,  a  great  Increafe 
of  a  Spirit  of  Serioufnefs,  and  fober  Confideration 
of  the  Things  of  the  eternal  World  ;  a  Difpo- 
fition  to  hearken  to  any  Thing  that  is  faid  of 
Things  of  this  Nature,  with  Attention  and  Af- 
feiStion  ;  a  Difpofition  to  treat  Matters  of  Reli- 
gion with  Solemnity,  and  as  Matters  of  great 
Importance  ;  a  Difpofition  to  make  thefe  Things 
the  Subje6t  of  Converfation  ;  and  a  great  Difpo- 
fition to  hear  the  Word  of  God  preached,  and 
to  take  all  Opportunities  in  order  to  it ;  and  to 
attend  on  the  publick  Worfhip  of  God,  and  all 
external  Duties  of  Religion  in  a  more  folemn 
and  decent  Manner  ;  fo  that  there  is  a  remarka- 
ble and  general  Alteration  in  the  Face  of  New- 
England 


52  "Ihe  Nature  of  Part  I. 

England  in  thefe  Refpefts :  Multitudes  in  all 
Parts  of  the  Land,  of  vain,  thoughtlefs,  regard- 
lefs  Perfons  are  quite  changed,  and  become  feri- 
ous  and  confiderate  :  There  is  a  vaft  Increafe  of 
Concern  for  the  Salvation  of  the  precious  Soul, 
and  of  that  Inquiry,  TVhat  Jhall  I  do  to  be  fcwed? 
The  Hearts  of  Multitudes  have  been  greatly 
taken  ofF  from  the  Things  of  the  World,  its 
Profits,  Pleafures  and  Honours  ;  and  there  has 
been  a  great  Increafe  of  Senfiblenefs  and  Tender- 
cefs  of  Confcience  :  Multitudes  in  all  Parts  have 
had  their  Confciences  awaken'd,  and  have  been 
made  fenfible  of  the  pernicious  Nature  and  Con- 
fequences  of  Sin,  and  what  a  dreadful  Thing  it 
is  to  lie  under  Guilt  and  the  Difpleafure  of  God, 
and  to  live  w^ithout  Peace  and  Reconciliation 
with  him  :  They  have  alfo  been  awakened  to  a 
Senfe  of  the  Shortnefs  and  Uncertainty  of  Life, 
and  the  Reality  of  another  World  and  future 
Judgment,  and  of  the  Neceffity  of  an  Intereft  in 
Christ  :  They  are  m6re  afraid  of  Sin,  more 
careful  and  inquifitive  that  they  may  know  what 
is  contrary  to  the  Mind  and  Will  of  God,  that 
they  may  avoid  it,  and  what  he  requires  of  them, 
that  they  may  do  it  ;  more  careful  to  guard 
againft  Temptations,  more  watchful  over  their 
own  Hearts,  earneftly  defirous  of  being  informed 
what  are  the  Means  that  God  has  diredled  to,  for 
their  Salvation,  and  diligent  in  the  Ufe  of  the 
Means  that  God  has  appointed  in  his  Word,  in 
order  to  it.  Many  very  ftupid,  fenfelefs  Sinners, 
and  Perfons  of  a  vain  Mind,  have  been  greatly 
awakened.     There  is  a  ftrange  Alteration  almoft 

-aU 


Part  I.         the  Work  in  general.  53 

all  over  New- England  amongft  young  People  : 
By  a  powerful,  invifible  Influence  on  their  Minds, 
they  have  been  brought  to  forfake  thofe  Things 
in  a  general  Way,  as  it  were  at  once,  that  they 
were  extremely  fond  of,  and  greatly  addicted  to, 
and  that  they  feem'd  to  place  the  Happinefs  of 
their  Lives  in,  and  that  nothing  before  could  in- 
duce them  to  forfake  ;  as  their  Frolicking,  vain 
Company-keeping,  Night- walking,  their  Mirth 
and  Jollity,  their  impure  Language,  and  lewd 
Songs  :  In  vain  did  Minifters  preach  againft  thofe 
Things  before,  and  in  vain  were  Laws  made  to 
reftrain  tliem,  and  in  vain  was  all  the  Vigilance 
of  Magiftrates  and  Civil  Officers  ;  but  now  they 
have  almoft  every  where  dropped  them  as  it 
were  of  themfelves.  And  there  is  a  great  Altera- 
tion amongft  Old  and  Young  as  to  Drinkins:, 
Tavern-haunting,  profane  fpeaking,  and  Extra- 
vagance in  Apparel.  Many  notorioufly  vicious 
Perfons  have  been  reformed,  and  become  exter- 
nally quite  New-Creatures  :  Some  that  are  weal- 
thy,  and  of  a  fafhionable,  gay  Education  ;  fome 
great  Beaus  and  fine  Ladies,  that  feem'd  to  have 
their  Minds  fvvallowed  up  with  nothing  but  the 
vain  Shews  and  Pleafures  of  the  World,  have 
been  wonderfully  altered,  and  have  relinquifhed 
thefe  Vanities,  and  are  become  ferious,  mortified 
and  humble  in  their  Converfation.  'Tis  afto- 
nifhing  to  fee  the  Alteration  that  is  in  fome 
Towns,^  where  before  was  but  .little  Appearance 
of  Religion,  or  any  Thing  but  Vice  and  Vanity  : 
X  and  fo  remote  was  all  that  was  to  be  feen  or 
heard  amongft  them  from  any  Thing  tliat  favoured 

of 


54  ^he  Nature  of  Part  I. 

of  vital  Piety  or  ferious  Religion,  or  that  had  any 
Relation  to  it,  that  one  would  have  thought,   if 
they  had  judged  only  by  v^^hat  appeared  in  them, 
that  they  had  been  fome  other  Species  from  the 
ferious  and  religious,  that  had  no  Concern  with 
another  World,  and  whofe   Natures  were  not 
made  capable  of  thofe  Things  that  appertain  to 
Chriftian  Experience,  and  pious  Converfation  ; 
efpecially   was  it  thus   among  young  Perfons  : 
And  now  they  are  transformed  into  another  fort 
of  People;  their  former  vain,  worldly  and  vici- 
ous Converfation  and  Difpofitions  feem  to  be  for- 
faken,  and  tliey  are  as  it  were,  gone  over  to  a 
new  World:  Their  Thoughts,  and  their  Talk, 
and  their  Concern,  AfFeftions  and  Enquiries  are 
now  about  the  Favour  of  God,  an  Intereft  in 
Christ,  a  renewed  fanftified  Heart,  and  a  fpi-.« 
ritual  Bleflednefs,  and  Acceptance  and  Happinefs 
in  a  future  World.     And  through  the  greater 
Part  of  New-England^  the  Holy  Bible  is  in  much 
greater  Efteem   and  Ufe   than  it  ufed    to  be  ; 
The  great  Things  that  are  contained  in  it  are 
much  more  regarded,  as  Things  of  the  greateft 
Confequence,  and  are  much  more  the  Subjects  of 
Meditation  and  Converfation  ;  and  other  Books 
of  Piety  that  have  long  been  of  eftabliflred  Repu- 
tation, as  the  moft  excellent,  and  moft  tending 
to  promote  true  Godlinefs,  have  been  abundantly 
more  in  Ufe  :  The  Lord's-Day  is  more  religi«= 
cufly  and  ftriftly  obferved  :  And  abundance  has 
been  lately  done  at  making  up  Differences,  and 
confeffing  Faults  one  to  another,    and  making 
Reftitution  ;    probably   more   within   this  two 

Years, 


Part  I.         the  IVork  in ge^icraL 


DJ 


Years,  than  was  done  in  Thirty  Years  before : 
It  has  been  lb  undcubteJly  in  many  Places.  And 
furprizing  has  been  the  Power  of  th^t  Spirit  that 
has  been  poured  out  on  the  Land,  in  many  In- 
ftances,  to  deftroy  old  Grudges,  and  make  up 
long  continued  Breaches,  and  to  briiig  thofe  that; 
feemed  to  be  in  a  confirm'd  irreconcileable  Alic- 
nation,  to  embrace  each  other  in  a  fmcere  and 
entire  Amity.  Great  Numbers  under  this  In- 
fluence have  been  brought  to  a  deep  Senfc  of 
their  own  Sinfulnefs  and Vilenefs  ;  the  Sinfulnefsof 
their  Lives,  the  Heinoufnefs  of  their  Difregard  of 
the  Authority  of  the  great  God,  and  the  Hei- 
noufnefs of  their  living  in  Contempt  of  a  Saviour  : 
they  have  lamented  their  former  Negligence  of 
their  Souls,  and  neglecting  and  lofing  precious 
■Time.  Their  Sins  of  Life  have  been  extraor- 
dinarily fet  before  them  :  and  they  have  alfo  had 
a  great  Senfe  of  their  Sins  of  Heart  ;  their  hard- 
nefs  of  Heart,  and  Enmity  againft  that  which  is 
Good,  and  Pronenefs  to  aU  Evil  ;  and  alfo  of  the 
Worthlefsnefs  of^  their  own  religious  Performan- 
ces, how  unworthy  their  Prayers,  Praifes,  and 
all  that  they  did  in  Religion^  was  to  be  regarded 
of  God  :  And  it  has  been  a  common  Thing  &at 
Perfons  have  had  fuch  a  Senfe  of  their  own  Sin- 
fulnefs, that  they  have  thought  themfelves  to  be 
the  worft  of  all,  and  that  none  ever  was  fo  vile 
as  they  :  And  many  feem  to  have  been  greatly 
convinced  that  they  were  utterly  unworthy  of 
any  Mei cy  at  the  Hands  of  God,  however  mife- 
rable  they  were,  and  tho'  they  flood  in  extreme 
Neceffity  of  Mercy  ;  and  that  they  deferved  no- 
F  thing 


56  ^^he  Nature  of  Part  J, 


0 


thing  but  eternal  Burnings  :  and  have  been  {tn- 
fible  that  God  would  be  altogether  juft  and  righ- 
teous in  inflifting  endlefs  Damnation  upon  them, 
at  the  fame  Time  that  they  have  had  an  exceed- 
ing afFecSting  Senfe  of  the  Dreadfulnefs  of  fuch 
endlefs  Torments,  and  have  apprehended  them- 
felves  to  be  greatly  in  Danger  of  it.     And  many 
have  been  deeply  afFedled  with  a  Senfe  of  their 
own    Ignorance    and  Blindnefs,   and  exceeding 
Hclplefsnefs,  and  fo  of  their  extreme  Need  of  the 
divine  Pit}^  and  Help.    And  fo  far  as  v/e  arc  wor- 
thy to  be  credited  one  by  another,   in  what  we 
fay,  (andPerfons  of  good  Underftanding  and  found 
Mind,  and  known  and  experienced  Probity,  have, 
a  Right  to  be  believ'd  by  their  Neighbours,  when 
they  fpeak  of  Things  that  fall  under  their  Obfer-^ 
vation  and  Experience,)  Multitudes  inNeit-Eng- 
land  have  lately  been  brought  to  a  new  and  great: 
Conviction  of  the  Truth  and   Certainty  of  the 
Things  of  the  Gofpel ;  to  a  firm  Perfwaficn  that 
Christ  Jesus   is  the  Son  of  God,  and  the 
great  and  only  Saviour  of  t\iC  World  ;   and  that 
the  great  Dodrines  of  the  Gofpel  touching  Re- 
conciliation by  his  Blood,  and  Acceptance  in  his 
Righteoufnefs,    and   eternal  Life  and   Salvation 
through  him,  are  Matters  of  undoubted  Truth  ; 
-together  with  a  moft  affeding  Senfe  of  the.  EV" 
cellency  and  SufRciency  of  this  Saviour,  and -^  the 
glorious  Wifdom  and  Grace  of  God  fliiningin. 
this  Way  of  Salvation  ;   and  of  the  Wonders  ©f i 
Christ's   dying  Love,   and    the^Sincerity   of | 
Christ  in  the  invitations  of  the  (iofpel,  and  ji 
-^onfequent  Affiance  and  fv>  cet  Reft  of  Soul  in 

Chrtvt 


Part  I.         the  IFork  in  general.  57 

Christ,  as  a  glorious  Saviour,  a  ftrong  Rock 
and  high  Tower,  accompanied  with  an  admiring 
and  exalting  Apprehenfion  of  the  Glory  of  the. 
divine   Perfections,    God's   Majefly,  Holineii, 

fovereign  Grace,  &c ;  with  a  fenfible,  ftrong 

and  fweet  Love  to  God,  and  Delight  in  him,  far 
furpafling  all  temporal  Delights,  or  earthly  Hea- 
fures  ;  and  aReft  of  Soul  in  him  as  a  Portion  and 
the  Fountain  of  all  Good,  attended  with  an  Ab- 
horrence of  Sin,  and  Self-loathing  for  it,  and 
earneft  longings  of  Soul  after  more  Holinefs  and 
Conformity  to  God,  with  a  Senfe  of  the  great 
Need  of  God's  Help  in  order  to  Holinefs  of 
Life  ;  together  with  a  moft  dear  Love  to  all  that 
are  fuppofed  to  be  the  Children  of  God,  and  a 
Love  to  Mankind  in  general,  and  a  moft  fenfible 
and  tender  Compaffion  for  the  Souls  of  Sinners, 
and  earneft  Defires  of  the  Advancement  of 
Christ's  Kingdom  in  the  World.  And  thefe 
Things  have  appear'd  to  be  in  many  of  them 
abiding  now  for  many  Months,  yea,  more  than  tt 
Year  and  half  i  with  an  abiding  Concern  to  live 
an  holy  Life,  and  great  Complaints  of  remaining 
Corruption,  longing  to  be  more  free  from  the 
Body  of  Sin  and  Death.  And  not  only  do  thefe 
Effects  appear  in  hew  Converts,  but  great  Num- 
bers of  thofe  that  were  formerly  efteemed  the 
moft  fober  and  pious  People,  have,  under  the  In- 
fluence of  this  Work,  been  greatly  quickened, 
and  their  Hearts  renewed  with  greater  Degrec<5 
of  Light,  renewed  Repentance  and  Humiliation, 
and  more  lively  Exercifes  of  Fsith,  Love  and 
Joy  in  the  Lord.  Many  as  I  am  well  know- 
F  2.  ing. 


-^  lie  Nature  of  Part  I. 

J  Jig,  have  of  late  been  remarkably  engaged  to 
watch  5  and  flrive,  and  fight  againft  Sin,  and  caft 
rut  every  Idol,  and  fell  all  for  Christ,  and  give 
I  p  themfelves  entirely  to  God,  and  make  a  Sa- 
i  rifice  of  every  worldly'  and  carnal  Thing  to  the 
Welfare  and  Profperity  of  their  Souls.  And 
there  has  of  late  appeared  in  fome  Places  an  un- 
i  iiial  Difpofition  to  bind  themfelves  to  it  in  a 
i  :Iemn  Covenant  with  God.  And  now  inftead 
cf  Meetings  at  Taverns  and  drinking  Houfes, 
r.nd  Meetings  of  young  People  in  Frolicks  and 
A  ain  Company,  the  Country  is  full  of  Meetings 
cf  all  Sorts  and  Ages  of  Perfons,  Young  and  Old, 
Men,  Women  and  little  Children,  to  read  and 
pray,  and  fing  Praifes,  and  to  converfe  of  the 
Things  of  God  and  another  World.  In  very 
Viany  Places  the  main  of  the  Converfation  in  all 
Companies  turns  on  Religion,  and  Things  of  a 
fpiritual  Nature.  Inftead  of  vain  Mirth  amongft 
young  People,  there  is  now  either  mourning  un- 
der a  Senfe  of  the  Guilt  of  Sin,  or  holy  rejoicing 
i  1  Christ  Jesus  \  and  inftead  of  their  lewd 
i^ongs,  are  now  to  be  h^ard  from  them  Songs  of 
Praife  to  God,  and  the  Lamb  that  was  flain  to 
jcdeem  them  by  hi^  Blood.  And  there  has  been 
tliis  Alteration  abiding  on  ]\;Iultitudes  all  over  the 
Land,  for  a  Year  and  half,  without  any  Appear- 
-iz^jc^  of  a  Difpofition  to  return  to  former  Vice 
and  Vanity.  And  under  the  Influences  of  this 
Work,  there  have  been  many  of  the  Remains 
cf  thofe  wretched  People  and  Dregs  of  Mankind, 
the  poor  Indians^  that  feemed  to  be  next  to  a... 
State  of  Brutality,  and  with  whom,  till  now,  it- 

feemed 


Part  L  *       the  Work  in  general.  59    '; 

feemed  to  be  to  little  more  Purpofe  to  ufe  Ea-- 
deavours  for  their  InftrucSlion  and  Awakening, 
than  with  the  Beafts  i  whofe  Minds  have  now 
been  ftrangely  fpened  to  receive  Inftruftion,  and 
have  been  deeply  afFefted  with  the  Concerns'  of 
their  precious  Souls,  and  have  reformed  their 
Lives,  and  forfaken  their  former  ftupid,  barba- 
rous &  brutifhWay  ofIiving;&  particularly  thatSin 
to  which  they  have  been  fo  exceedingly  addicted ^ 
theirDrunkennefs ;  &  are  become  devout  &ferious 

V  Perfons ;  &many  of  them  to  Appearance  bro' t  truly 
and  greatly  to  delight  in  theThings  of  GoDjand  to 
have  their  Souls  very  much  digaged.  and  enter-- 
tained  with  the  great  Things  of  the  Gofpel. 
And  many  of  the  poor  Negroes  alfo  have  been  in 
like  Manner  wrought  upon  and  changed.  And 
the  Souls  of  very  many  little  Children  have  beea 
remarkably  enlighten'd,  and  their  Hearts  won- 
derfully affe6led  and  enlarged,  and  their  IVIoutha 
open'd,  exprefling  themfelves  in  a  Manner  far 
beyond  their  Years,  and  to  the  juft  Aftonifliment 
of  thofe  that  have  heard  them  >:  and  fome  ox 
them  from  Time  to  Time,  for  many  Months^ 
greatly  and  delightfully  afFecSted  with  the  Glory 
of  divine  Thmgs^  and  the  Excellency  and  Love 

'  of  the  Redeemer,,  with  their  Hearts  greatly  filled 
with  Love  to  and  Joy  in  him,  and  have  conti- 
nued to  be  ferious  and  pious  in  their  Behaviour. 

The  divine  Power  of  this  Work  has.  marvel- 
loufly  appeared  in  fome  Inftances  I  have  been 
acquainted  with,  in  fupporting  and  fortifying  the 
Heart  under  great  Trials,  fuch  as  the  Deadi  ot 
Children,  and  extreme  Pain  of  Body  ^  wonder- 
•  F  3  full>^ 


6o  This  is  mojl  evidently        Part  I. 

fully  maintaining  the  Serenity,  Calmnefs  and  Joy 
of  the  Soul,  in  an  immoveable  Reft  in  God, 
and  fweet  Refignation  to  him.  There  alfo  have 
been  Inftances  of  fome  that  have  been  the  Sub- 
jeas  of  this  Work,  that  under  the  bleffed  Influ- 
ences of  it  have,  in  fuch  a  calm,  bright  and  joy- 
ful Frame  of  Mind,  been  carried  through  the 
Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death. 

And  now  let  us  confider ;  Is  it  not  ftrange 

that  in  a  Chriftian,  orthodox  Country,  and  fuch 
a  Land  of  Light  as  this  is,  there  fhbuld  be  many 
at  a  Lofs  whofe  Work  this  is,  whether  the  Work 
of  God  or  the  Work  of  the  Devil  ?  Is  it  not  a 
Shame  to  New-England  that  fuch  a  Work  fliould 
be  much  doubted  of  here  ?  Need  we  look  over 
the  Hiftories  of  all  paft  Times,  to  fee  if  there 
ben't  fome  Circumftances  and  external  Appear- 
ances that  attend  this  Work,  that  have  been  for^ 
merly  found  amongft  Enthufiafts  ?  Whether 
the  Montmifts  had  not  great  Tranfports  of  Joy,, 
and  whether  the  French  Prophets  had  not  Agitati^ 
ons  of  Body  ?  Bleffed  be  God  !  He  don't  put 
us  to  the  Toil  of  fuch  Inquiries.  We  need  nqt 
fay.  Who  fhall  afcend  into  Heaven,  to  bring  us 
down  fomething  whereby  to  judge  of  this  Work  ? 
Nor  does  God  fend  us  beyond  the  Seas,  ;nor  into 
paft  Ages,  t6  obtain  a  Rule  that  fliall  determine 
and  fatisfy  u?.  But  v/e  have  a  Rule  near  at 
Hand,  a  facred  Book  that  God  himfelf  has  put 
into  our  Hands,  with  clear  and  infallible  Marks, 
fufficient  to  refolve  us  in  Things  of  this  Nature  ; 
which  Rook  I  think  we  muft  rejeil,  not  only 
ia  fgmc  particular  Paflages,  but  in  the  Subftance 

of 


Pa  r  t  L  the  Work  of  GOD.  6 1 

of  it,  if  we  rejedl  fuch  a  Work  as  has  now  been 
defcribedj  as  not  being  the  Work  of  God.  The 
whole  Tenor  of  theGofpel  proves  it  ;  all  the  No- 
tion of  Religion  that  the  Scripture  gives  us  con- 
firms it. 

I  fuppofe  there  is  fcarcely  a  Minifter  in  this 
Land,  but  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  ufed  to  pray 
that  God  would  pour  out  his  Spirit,  and  work 
a  Reformation  and  Revival  of  Religion  in  the 
Countr}^,  and  turn  us  from  our  Intemperance, 
Profanenefs,  Uncleannefs,  Worldlinefs  and  other 
Sins  i  and  we  have  kept  from  Year  to  Year  Days 
of  publick  Fafting  and  Prayer  to  God,  to  ac- 
knowledge our  Backflidings,  and  humble  our 
felves  for  our  Sins,  and  to  feek  of  God  Forgive- 
nefs  &  Reformation  :  and  new  when  fo  great  and 
extenfive  a  Reformation  is  fo  fuddenly  and  won- 
derfully acGompliihed,  in  thofe  ver)^  Things  that 
we  Have  fought  to  God  for,  fliall  we  not  ac- 
knowledge it  ?  Or  when  we  do,  do  it  Vv  ith  great 
Coldnefs,  Caution  and  Referv^e,  and  fcarcely  take 
any  Notice  of  it  in  our  publick  Prayers  &  Praifes, 
(jf  mention  it  but  flightly  and  curforily,  and  in 
luoh  a  Manner  as  carries  an  Appearance  as  tho*" 
we  would  contrive  to  fay  as  litde  of  it  as  ever  we 
eould,  and  were  glad  to  pafs  from  it  ?  And  that 
becaufe,  (altho'  indeed  there  be  fuch  a  Work  at- 
tended with  all  thefe  glorious  Efreds,  yet)  The 
Work  is  attended  with  a  Mixture  of  Error,  Im- 
prudences, Darknefs  and  Sin  ;  becaufe  fome  Per^ 
fons  are  carried  away  with  Impreffions,  and  are 
indifcreet,  and  too  cenforious  with  their  Zeal  -, 
and  becaufe  there  are  high  Tranfports  of  religious 

Affe6tiQa> 


62     This  is  evidently  the  Work  of  God.  P.  I. 

AiFeaion  ;  and  becaufe  of  fome  EfFefts  on  Per- 
fons  Bodies  that  we  don't  underftand  the  Rea- 
fon  of  ? 

I  have  been  particularly  acquainted  with  many 
Perfons  that  have  been  the  Subjecfts  of  the  high 
and  extraordinary  Tranfports  of  the  prefent  Day  ^ 
and  in  the  higheft  Tranfports  of  any  of  the  In- 
ftances  that  I  have  httn  acquainted  with,   and 
where  the  AfFeflions  of  Admiration,  Love  and 
Joy,  fo  far  as  another  could  judge,  have  been 
raifed  to  a  higher  Pitch  than  in  any  other  Inftan- 
ces  I  have  obferved  or  been  informed  of,  the  fol- 
Towing  Things  have  been  united,  viz.  a  very 
frequent  dv/elling,  for  fome  confiderable  Time 
together,  in  fuch  Views  of  the  Glory  of  the  di- 
vine Perfeftions,   aM  Christ's   Excellencies, 
that  the  Soul  in  the  mean  Time  has  been  as  it 
were  perfeiffy  overwhelmed,   and  fwallowed  up 
with  Light  and  Love  and  a  fweet  Solace,  Reft 
and  Joy  of  Soul,  that  was  altogether  unfpeakea- 
ble  ;  and  m.ore  than  once  continuing  for  five  or 
fix  Hours  together,  without  any  Interruption,   in 
that  clear  and  lively  View  or  Senfe  of  the  infinite 
Beauty  and  Amiablenefs  f)f  Christ's  Perfbn, 
and  the  heavenly  Sweetnefs  of  his  excellent  and 
tranfcendent  Love  y  fo  that  (to  ufe  the  Perfbn^s 
own  Expreffions)  the  Soul  remained  in  a  kind  of 
heavenly  Elyfium,  and  did  as  it  were  fwim  irt  the 
Rays    of   Christ's  Love,   fike  a  littie^Mote 
fwimming     in    the    Beams    of    the  '  Sun^      or 
Streams  of  his  Light  that  come  in  at  a  Window  ; 
and  the  Heart  was  fwallowed   up   in  a  kind  of 
Glow  of  Christ's  Lave,  coming  down  frora 

Christ's. 


P A .  I.      The  Nalure  of  the  Work,  &:c.       63 

Christ's  Heart  in  Heaveci,  as  a  conftant  Stream 
of  iweet  Light,  at  the  fame  Time  the  Soul  all 
flowing  out  in  Love  tt  him  ;  fo  that  there  feem'd 
to  be  a  conftant  flowinf -end  rcflowing  from  Heart 
to  Heart :  The  Soul  dwelt  on  high,  and  was  loft 
in  God,  and  feemed  almoft  to  leave  the  Body  ;, 
dwelling  in  a  pure  Delight  that  fed  and  fatisfied 
the  Soul  ;  enjoying  Pleafure  without  the  leaft 
Sting,  or  any  Interruption  ;  a  Sweetnefs  that  the 
Soul  was  loft  in  ;  fo  that  {(o  far  as  the  Judgment, 
and  Word.,of  a  Perfon  of  Difcretion  may  be  ta- 
ken, fpeaking  upon  the  moft  deliberate  Confide- 
ration,)  what  was  enjoyed  in  each  fmgle  Minute 
of  the  whole  Space,  which  was  many  Hours,  was 
undoubtedly  worth  more  than  all  the  outward 
Comfort  and  Pleafure  of  the  whole  Life  put  to- 
gether ;  and  this  without  being  in  any  Trance, 
or  being  at  ail  deprived  of  the  Exercife  of  the  Bo- 
dily Senfes  :  And  the  like  heavenly  Delight  and 
unfpeakable  Joy  of  Soul,  enjoyed  from  Time  to 
Time,  for  Years  together ;  tho'  not  frequently 
fo  long  together,  to  fuch  an  height :  Extraordi- 
narv  Views  of  divine  Things,  and  religiious  Af- 
fedlions,  being  frequently  attended  w^ith  very 
great  Effedls  on  the  Body,  Nature  often  finking 
under  the  Weight  of  divine  Difcoverics,  the 
Strength  of  the  Body  taken  away,  fo  as  to  deprive 
of  all  Ability  to  ftand  or  fpeak  ;  fometimes  the 
Hands  clinch'd,  and  the  Flefh  cold,,  but  Senfes 
ftill  remaining  ;  animal  Nature  often  in  a  great 
Emotion  and  Agitation,  and  the  Soul  very  often, 
of  late,  fo  overcome  with  great  Admiration,  and 
a  kind  of  omnipotent  Joy,  as  to  caufe  the  Per- 
fon 


64         the  Nature  of  the  Work      Part  I. 

foil  (wholly  unavoidabiy,)  to  leap  with  all  the 
Might,  with  Jay  and  mighty  Exultation  of  Soul ; 
die  Soul  at  the  fame  Time  being  fo  ftrongly  drawn 
towards  God  and  Christ  in  Heaven/  tliat  it 
feem'd  to  the  Perfon  as  tho'  Soul  and  Body  would, 
as  it  were  of  themfelves,  of  NeceiTity  mount  up, 
leave  the  Earth  and  afcend  thither.  Thefe  EfFecls 
on  the  Body  did  not  begin  now  in  this  wonderful 
Seafon,  that  they  fhould  be  owing  to  the  Influence 
of  the  Example  of  the  Times,  but  about  {^\^r\ 
Years  ago  ;  and  began  in  a  much  higher  Degree, 
and  greater  Frequency,  ;near  three  Years  ago, 
when  there  was  no  fuch  enthufiaftical  Seafon,  as 
many  account  this,  but  it  was  a  very  dead  Time 
through  the  Land  :  They  arofe  from  no  Diftem- 
per  catched  from  Mr.  Whitefield^  or  Mr.  7ennent^ 
becaufe  they  began  before  cither  of  them  came 
into  the  Country  ;  Tliey  began  as  I  faid,  near 
three  Years  ago,  in  a  great  Increafe,  upon  an  ex- 
traordinary Self-Dedication,  and  Renunciation  of 
the  World,  and  Refignaticn  of  all  to  God,  made 
in  a  great  View  of  God's  Excellency,  and  high 
Exercife  of  Love  to  him,  and  Reft  and  Joy  in 
him  ;  fince  which  Time  they  have  been  very 
frequent ;  and  began  in  a  yet  higher  Degree,  and 
greater  Frequency,  about  a  Year  and  half  ago, 
upon  another  new  Refignation  of  all  to  GOD, 
with  a  yet  greater  Fervency  and  Delight  of  Soul ; 
fmce  which  Time  the  Body  has  been  very  often 
fainting,  with  the  LoVe  of  Christ  ;  and  began 
in  a  much  higher  Degree  ftill,  the  laft  Winter, 
upon^  another  Refignation  and  Acceptance  of 
God,  as  the  only  Portion  and  Happinefs  of  the 

.  Soul^ 


Part  I.       in  a  fartictilar  hiftance.        c-. 

Soul,  wherein  the  whole  World,  with  the  denreft 
Enjoyments  in  it,  were  renounced  as  Dirt  and 
Dung,  and  all  that  is  pleafant  and  glorious,  and 
.  all  that  is  terrible  in  this  World,  feemed  perfeftly 
to  vanifh  into  nothing,  and  nothing  to  be  left 
but  GOD,  in  whom  the  Soul  was  perfe6l:ly  fwal- 
lowed  up,  as  in  an  infinite  Ocean  of  BlelTedncfs  : 
Since  which  Time  there  have  often  been  great 
Agttations  of  Body,  and  an  unavoidable  leaping 
for  Joy  ;  and  the  Soul  as  it  were  dwelli  ig  almoft 
without  Interruption,  in  a  kind  of  Paradife  ;  and 
very  often,  in  high  Tranfports,  difpofed  to  fpeak 
of  thofe  great  and  glorious  Things  of  GOD  and 
Christ,  and  the  eternal  World,  that  are  in 
View,  to  others  that  are  prefent,  in  a  moft  ear- 
neft  Manner,  and  with  a  loud  Voice,  fo  that  it 
is  next  to  impoffible  to  avoid  it :  Thefe  EfFe6ls 
on  the  Body  not  arifmg  from  any  bodily  Diftem- 
per  or  Weaknefs,  becaufe  the  greateft  of  all  have 
been  in  a  good  State  of  Health.  This  great  Re- 
joicing has  been  a  rejoicing  with  trembling,  ;.  e, 
attended  with  a  deep  and  lively  Senfe  of  the 
Greatnefs  and  Majefty  of  GODj^and  the  Per- 
ioi\'s  own  exceeding  Littlenefs  and  Vilenefs : 
Spiritual  Joys  in  thisPerfon  never  wer^  attended, 
either  formerly  or  lately,  with  the-  leaft  Appear- 
ance of  any  Laughter  or  Lightnbfs  of  Counte- 
nance, or  Manner  of  fpeaking  ;  but  with  ^  pecu- 
liar Abhorrence  of  fuch  Appearances  in  fpiritual 
Rejoicings,  efpecially  fince  Joys  have  been  greateft 
Oi  all :  Thefe  high  Tranf::)orts  when  thev  have 
been  paft,  have  had  abiding  EfFefts  in  the  InCreafe 
of  the  Sweetnefs,  P^eft  and  Humility  that  they 

have 


66         The  Nature  of  ihe  IVork       Part  I. 

have  left  upon  the  Soul  ;  and  a  new  Engagednefs 
of  Heart  to  hve  to  GOD's  Honour,  and  watch 
and  fight  againll  Sin.  And  thefe  Things  not  in 
one  that  is  in  the  giddy  age  of  Youth,  nor  in  a 
new  Convert,  and  unexperienced  Chriflian,  but 
in  one  that  was  converted  above  Twenty-feven 
Years  ago  ;  and  neither  converted,  nor  educated 
in  that  enthufiaftical  Town  of  Northa?nptcn^  (as 
fome  may  be  ready  to  call  it,)  but  in  a  Town 
and  Family  that  none  that  I  know  of  fufpefted  of 
Enthufiafm  ;  and  in  aChriftian  that  has  been  long, 
in  an  uncommon  Manner,  growing  in  Grace,  and 
rifing,  by  very  fenfible  Degrees,  to  higher  Love 
to  GOD,  and  Weanednefs  from  the  World,  and 
Maftery  over  Sin  and  Temptation,  through  great 
Trials  and  Cpnfli£ls,  and  long  continued  ftrug- 
gling  and  fighting  with  Sin,  and  earn  eft  and  con- 
ftant  Prayer  and  Labour  in  Religion,  and  En- 
gagednefs of  Mind  in  the  Ufe  of  all  Means,  at- 
tended with  a  great  ExacSlnefs  of  Life  :  Which 
Growth  has  been  attended,  not  only  with  a  great 
Increafe  of  religious  Affections,  but  with  a  won- 
derful Alteration  of  outward  Behaviour,  in  many 
Things,  vifibie  to  thofe  who  are  moft  intimately 
acquainted,  fo  as  lately  to  have  become  as  it  were 
a  new  Perfon  ;  and  particularly  in  living  fo  much 
more  above  the  World,  and  in  a  greater  Degree 
of  Stedfaftnefs  and  Strength  in  the  Way  of  Duty 
and  Self-denial,  maintaining  the  Chriftian  Con- 
fli61:  againft  Temptations,  and  conquering  from 
Time  to  Time  under  great  Trials  ;  perfifting  in 
an  unmoved,  untouched  Calm  and  Reft,  under 
the  Changes  and  Accidents  of  Time.  The  Per- 
fon 


Part  I.       :,:  a  particular  Inftance.         C-j 

foil  had  formerly  in  lower  Degrees  of  Grace, 
been  fubje^l  to  Unlleadmefs,  and  many  ups  and 
da*is,  in  the  Frame  of  Mind  ;  The  Mind  be- 
ins;  under  great  Diiadvantages,  thro'  a  vapoury 
Habit  of  Body,  and  often  fubjedi:  to  Melancholy, 
and  at  Times  almoft  over-born  with  it,  it  having 
been  fo  even  from  early  Youth  :  but  Strength  of 
Grace,  and  divine  Light  has  of  a  long  Time, 
wholly  conquered  thefe  Diikdvantages,  and  car- 
ried tlie  Mind  in  a'^onftant  Manner,  quite  above 
all  fuch  Efteflis  of  Vapours.  Since  that  Refigna- 
tion  fpoken  of  before,  made  near  three  \ears 
ago,  every  Thing  of  that  Nature  feems  to  be 
overcome  and  cruflied  by  the  Power  of  Faith  and 
Truft  in  God,  and  Refignation  to  him  ;  the  Per- 
fon  has  remained  in  a  conftant  uninterrupted 
Reft,  and  humble  Joy  in  God,  and  Affirrance  of 
his  Favour,  without  one  Hour's  Melancholy  or 
Darknefs,  from  that  Day  to  this  ;  Vapours  have 
had  great  Effefts  on  the  Body,  fuch  as  they  ufed 
to  have  before,  but  the  Soul  has  been  always  out 
of  their  Reach.  And  this  Stedfaftnefs  and  Ccn- 
ftancy  has  remained  thro'  great  outward  Changes 
and  Trials  ;  fuch  as  Times  of  the  moft  extreme 
Pain,  and  apparent  Hazard  of  immediate  Death. 
What  has  been  felt  in  late  great  Tranfports  is 
known  to  be  nothing  new  in  Kind,  but  to  be  of 
the  fame  Nature  with  "^vhat  was  felt  formerlv, 
when  a  little  Child  of  about  five'or  fix  Years  of 
Age  ;  but  only  in  a  vaftly  higherDegree.  Thefe 
tranfporting  Views  and  rapturous  AfFeclions  are 
not  attended  with  any  enthufiaftick  Difpofition, 
to  follow  Impulfes,  or  any  fuppofed  prophetical 
G  Re- 


€8        The  Nature  of  the  Work     Pai^t  I. 

Revelations  ;  nor  have  they  been  obferve'd  to  be 
attended  with  any  Appearance  of  fpiritual  Pride, 
but  very  much  of  a  contrary  Difpofition,  ajUfn- 
creafe  of  a  Spirit  of  Humility  and  Meeknefs,  and 
a  Difpofition  in  Honour  to  prefer  others  :  And 
^tis  worthy  to  be  remark'd,  that  at  a  Time  re- 
markably diftinguifhed  from  all  others,  wherein 
Difcoveries  and  holy  AfFedlions  were  evidently  at 
the  greateft  Height  that  ever  happen'djthe  Great- 
nefs  and  Clearnefs  of  divine  Light  being  over- 
whelming, and  the  Strength  and  Sweetnefs  of 
divine  Love  altogether  over-pouring,  which  be- 
gan early  in  the  Morning  of  the  holy  Sabbath, 
and  lafted  for  Days  together,  melting  all  down 
in  the  deepeft  Humility  and  Poverty  of  Spirit, 
Reverence  and  Refignation,  and  the  fweeteft 
Meeknefs,and  univerfal  Benevolence  ;  I  fay,  'tis 
worthy  to  be  obferved,  that  there  were  thefe  two 
Things  in  a  remarkable  Manner  felt  at  that 
Time,  viz.  a  peculiar  fenfible  Averfion  to  a  judg- 
ing others  that  were  profefling  Chriftians  of  good 
•ilanding  in  the  vifible  Church,  that  they  were 
not  converted,  or  with  refpecl:  to  their  Degrees 
'  of  Grace  ,  or  at  all  intermeddling  with  thatMat- 
ter,  fo  much  as  to  determine  againft  and  con- 
demn others  in  the  Thought  of  the  Heart  ;  it  ap- 
pearing hateful,  as  not  agreeing  with  that  Lamb- 
like Humility,  Meeknefs,  Gentlenefs  &  Charity, 
which  the  Soul  then,  above  other  Times,  faw 
the  Beauty  of,  and  felt  a  Difpofition  to-  The 
Difpofition  that  was  then  felt  was,  on  tJhe  con- 
trary, to  prefer  others  to  Self,  and  to  ho^e  that 
thev  law  more  of  God  and  loved  him  better  ; 
^  -  tho^ 


Part  I.       in' a  particular  Injlance.         69 

iho'  before,  under  fmaller  DIfcoveries,  and  feebler 
Excrcifes  of  divine  Affeftion,  there  had  been  felt 
a  Difpofition  to  cenfure  and  condemn  others. 
And  another  Thing  that  was  felt  at  that  Time, 
was  a  very  great  Senfe  of  the  Importance  of  moral 
ibcial  Duties,  and  how  great  a  Part  of  Religion 
lay  in  them  :  There  was  fuch  a  new  Senfe  and 
Conviaion  of  this,  beyond  what  had  been  before, 
that  it  feemed  to  be  as  it  were  a  clear  Difcovery 
then  made  to  the  Soul :  But  in  general,  there  has 
been  a  very  great  Increafe  of  a  Senfe  of  thefe  two 
Thin2:s,  as  divine  Views  and  divine  Love  have 
increafed. 

The  Things  already  mentioned  have  been  at- 
tended alfo  with  the  following  Things,  viz.  an 
extraordinary  Senfe  of  the  awful  Majefty  and 
Greatnefs  of  God,  fo  as  oftentimes  to  take  away 
the  bodily  Strength ;  a  Senfe  of  the  Holinefs  of 
G0D5  ^  ^f  ^  Flame  infinitely  pure  and  bright, 
fo  as  fometimes  to  overwhelm  Soul  and  Body  j 
a  Senfe  of  the  piercing  all-feeing  Eye  of  God, 
fo  as  fometimes  to  take  away  the  bodily  Strength  ; 
and  ^n  extraordinary  View  of  the  infinite  Terri- 
i)lenefs  of  the  Wrath  of  God,  which  has  very 
frequently  been  ftrongly  imprefs'd  on  the  Mind, 
-together  with  a  Senfe  of  the  ineffable  Mifery  of 
Sinners  that  are  expofed  to  this  Wrath,  that  has 
been  over-bearing  :  Sometimes  the  exceeding  Pol- 
lution of  the  Perfon's  own  Heart,  as  a  Sink  of  all 
manner  of  Abomination,  and  a  Neft  of  Vipers, 
and  the  E)readfulnefs  of  an  eternal  Hell  of  God's 
Wrath,  open'd  to  View  both  together  3  with  a 
clear  View  of  a  Defert  of  that  Mifery,  without 
G  2  '  the 


o         The  Nature  of  the  IFork      Part  I. 


t'^e  leaft  Degree  of  divinaPityj  and  that  by  the 
Polhition  of  the  beft  Duties  ;  yea,  only  by  the 
Pollution  and  Irreverence,  and  want  of  Humility 
that  attended  once  fpeaking  of  the  hcJy  Name  of 
God,  when  done  in  the  bc-fl  Manner  that  ever 
it  H^s  done  ;  the  Strength  of  the  Body  very  often 
taken  away  with  a  deep  mourning  for  Sin,  as 
committed  againft  fo  holy  ^nd  good  a. God, 
fcmetimes  with  an  afFefting  Senfe^of  actual  Sin, 
fometimes  efpecially  indwelling  Sin,  fometimes 
the  Confideration  of  the  Sin  of  the  Heart  as  ap- 
pearing in  a  particular  Thing,  as  for  Inflance,  in 
that  there  was  no  greater  Forwardn efs  and  Readi- 
ncfs  to  Self-denial  for  God  and  Christ,  that 
had  fo  denied  himfelf  for  us  ;  yea,  fcmetimes  the 
Confideration  of  Sin  .that  was  in  only.  fpeakJHg 
one  Word  concerning  the  infimt^Iy;  gri^at  and 
holy  God,  has  been  fo  affecting  as  to  overcome 
the  Strength  of  Nature.:  A  very  great  Se/ife  of 
the  certain  Truth  of  the  great  Things  revealed  in 
the  Gofpel ;  an  over-whelming  Senfe  of  the  Glory 
of  the  Work  of  Redemption,  and-  the  Way  of 
Salvation  by  Jesus  Christ  ;  the  glorious  Har- 
mony of  the  divine  Attributes  appearing  therein^ 
as  that  wherein  Mercy  and  Truth  are  met  toge- 
ther, and  Righteoufnefs  and  Peace  have  kifTed 
each  other  ;  a  Sight  of  the  Fulnefs  and  glorious 
Sufficiency  of  Christ,  that  has  been  (o  afFe.ciing 
as  to  overcome  the  Body  :  A  conftant  imiopve- 
able  Truft  in  God  through  Christ,  with  a 
great  Senfe  of  his  Strength  and  Faithfijnefs.,  th? 
Surenefs  of  his  Covenant,  and  the  Immutabihi/ 
of  his  Promifes,  fo  that  the  everlafting  Mountain  > 

and 


Part  I.       in  a  particular  Injidnce.         ji 

and  perpetual  Hills  have  appeared  as  meer  Sha- 
dows to  thefe  Things  :  Sometimes  the  Sufficiency 
and  Faithfulnefs  of  God  as  the  Covenant  God 
of  his  People,  appearing  in  thefe  Words,  I  AM 
THAT  I  AM,  in  fo  affefting  a  Manner  as  to 
overcome  the  Body  :  A  Senfe  of  the  glorious,  un- 
fearchable,    unerring  Wifdom   of  God   in  his 
Works,  both  of  Creation  and  Providence,  fo  as 
to  fwallow  up  the  Soul,  &  overcome  the  Strength 
of  the  Body  :  A  fweet  rejoicing  of  Soul  at  tlie 
Thoughts  of  God's  being  infinitely  and  unchange- 
ably happy,  and  an  exulting  gladnefs  of  Heart 
that  God  is  Self-fufficient,  ani  infinitely  above 
all  Dependence,  and  reigns  over  all,  and  does  his 
Will  v^ith  abfolute  and  uncontroulable  Power  and 
Sovereignty  ;  a  Senfe  of  the  Glory  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  as  the  great  Comforter,   fo  as  to  over- 
whelm both  Soul  and  Body  ;  only  mentioning  the 
Word  the  Comforter,  h^s  immediately  taken 
away  all  Strength  ;  that  Word,  as  the  Perfon  ex- 
prefted  it,  feem'd  great  enough  to  fill  Heaven  and 
Earth  :  A  moft  vehement  and  paffionate  Defire  of 
the  Honour  and  Glory  of  God's  Name  ;  a  fen* 
fible,  clear  and  conftant  Preference  of  it  not  only 
to  the  Perfon's  own  temporal  Intereft,  but  fpiri- 
tual  Comfort  in  this  World  ;   and  a  Willingnefs 
to  fufFer  the  hidings  of  God's  Face,  and  to  live, 
and  die  in  Darknefs  and  Horror  if  God's  Honour 
fhould  require  it,  and  to  have  no  other  Reward 
for  it  but  that  God's  Name  fhould  be  glorified, 
altho'  fo  much  of  the  Sweetnefs  of  the  Light  of 
God's  Countenance  had  been  experienced  :  A 
great  lamenting  of  Ingratitude,  and  the  lownefe 
G  3  oi* 


72         ^he  Nature  of  the  H'^ork     Part  I. 

of  the  Degree  of  Love  to  God,  fo  as  to  deprive 
of  bodily  Strength  ;    and  very  often  vehement 
Longings  andFaintings  after  more  Love  toChrift, 
and  greater  Conformity  to  him  ;  efpecially  long-, 
ing  after  thefe  two  Things,  viz.  To  be  more 
perfeft  in  Humility^   and  AdoraUon ;    the  Flelh 
and  Heart,  feems  often  to  cry  out  for  a  lying  low 
before  God,  and  adoring  him  with  greater  Love 
and  Humility  :  The  Thoughts  of  the  perfe6l  Hu- 
mihty  with  which  the  Saints  in  Heaven  worfhip 
God,  and  fall  down  before  his  Throne,  have 
often  overcome  the  Body,  and  fet  it  into  a  great 
Agitation.     A  giwt  Delight  in  finging  Praifes  to 
God  and  Jesus  Christ,  and  longing  that  this 
prefent  Life  may  be,  as  it  were,  one  continued 
Song  of  Praife  to  God  ;  longing,  as  thePerfon 
expreffed  it,   to  fit  and  fing  this  Life  away  ;  and 
an  overcoming  Pleafure  in  the  Thoughts  of  fpend- 
ing  an  Eternity  in  that  Exercife  :  A  living  by  Faith 
to  a  great  Degree  ;  a  conftant  and  extraordinary 
Diftruft    of     own  Strength    and  Wifdom  ;     a 
great  Dependence  on  God  for  his  Help,  in  order 
to  the  Performance  of  any  Thing  to  G9d's  Ac- 
ceptance,  and  being  reftrain'd  from  the  moft  hor- 
rid Sins,  and  running  upon  God,  even  on  his 
Neck,   and  on  the  thick  Bofies  of  his  Bucklers  : 
Such  aSenfe  of  the  black  Ingratitude  of  true  Saints 
Coldnefs  and  Deadnefs  in  Religion,  and  their  fet- 
ting  their  Hearts  on  the  Things  of  this  World, 
as  to  overcome  the  bodily  Frame  :  A  great  long- 
ing that  all  the  Children  of  God  might  be  lively 
in  Religion,  fervent  in  their  Love,  and  adive  in 
the  Service  of  God  \  and  when  there  have  been 

Ao- 


Part.  1.       in  a  particular  Infta7tce.         73 

Appearances  of  it  in  others,  rejoicing  fo  in  be- 
holding the  pleafing  Sight,  that  the  Joy  of  Soul 
has  been  too  great  for  the  Body  :  Taking  Plea- 
fare  in  the  Thoughts  of  watching  and  ftriving 
againft  Sin,  and  fighting  through  the  Way  to 
Heaven,  and  filling  up  this  Life  with  hardLabour, 
and  bearing  the  Crofs  for  Christ,  as  an  Oppor- 
tunity to  give  God  Honour  ;  not  defiring  to  reft 
from' Labours  'till  arrived  in  Heaven,  but  abhor- 
ring the  Thoughts  of  it,  and  feeming  aftoniflied 
that  God's  own  Children  fhould  be  backward  to 
ftrive  and  deny   themfelves   for  God  :    Earneft 
Longings  that  allGOD's  People  might  be  cloathed 
with^Humility  and  Meeknefs,  like  the  Lamb  of 
GOD,  and  feel  nothing  in  their  Hearts  but  Love 
and  Compaffion  to  all  Mankind  ;  and  great  Grief 
when  any  Thing  to  the  contrary  feems  to  appear 
in  any  of  the  Children  of  GOD,   as  any  Bitter- 
nefs,  or  fiercenefs  of  Zeal,  or  Cenforioufnefs,  or 
reflecting  uncharitably    on  others,   or  difputing 
with  any  Appearance  of  Heat  of  Spirit ;  a  deep 
Concern  for  the  Good  of  others  Souls  ;  a  melt- 
ing Compaffion  to  thofe  that  look'd  on  themfelves 
as  in  a   State  of  Nature,  and  to  Saints  under 
Darknefs,  fo  as  to  caufe  the  Body  to  faint  :  An 
imiverfal  Benevolence  to  Mankind,  with  a  long- 
ing as  it  were  to  embrace  the  whole  World  in 
the  Arms  of  Pity  and  Love  ;  Ideas  of  fuffering 
from  Enemies,  the  utmoft  conceiveable  Rage  and 
Cruelty,  with  a  Difpofition  felt  to  fervent  Love 
and  Pity  in  fuch  a  Cafe,  fo  far  as  it  could  be 
realized  in  lliought ;  Fainting  with  Pity  to  the 
World  that  lies  in  Ignorance  and  Wickednefs ; 

fome- 


74        i:he  Nature  of  the  Work      Part  I. 

fometimes  a  Difpofition  felt  to  a  Life  given  up 
to  mourning  alone  in  a  Wildernefs  over  a  loft 
and  miferable  World  ;  Compaffion  towards  them 
being  often  to  that  Degree,  that  vi^ould  allov^  of 
no  Support  or  Reft,  but  in  going  to  GOD,  and 
pouring  out  the  Soul  in  Prayer  for  them  ;  ear- 
neft  Defires  that  the  Work  of  GOD,  that  is 
now  in  the  Land,  may  be  carried  on,  and  that 
with  greater  Purity,  and  Freedom  from  all  bit- 
ter Zeal,  Cenforioufnefs,  fpiritual  Pride,  hot  Dif- 

putes,  l^c \  a  vehement  and  conftant  Defire 

for  the  fetting  up  of  Christ's  Kingdom  thro* 
the  Earth,  as  a  Kingdom  of  Holinefs,  Purity, 
Love,  Peace  and  Happinefs  to  Mankind  :  The 
Soul  often  entertained  with  unfpeakable. Delight, 
and  bodily  Strength  overborn,  at  the  Thoughts 
of  Heaven,  as  a  World  of  Love,  where  Love 
fhall  be  the  Saints  eternal  Food,  and  they  fhall 
dwell  in  the  Light  of  Love,  and  fwim  in  an 
Ocean  of  Love,  and  where  the  very  Air  and 
Breath  will  be  nothing  but  Love;  Love  to  the 
People  of  GOD,  or  GOD's  true  Saints,  as  fuch 
that  have  the  Image  of  Christ,  and  as  thofe" 
that  will  in  a  very  little  Time  ftiine  in  his  per- 
fect Image,  that  has  been  attended  with  that  En- 
dearment and  Onenefs  of  Heart,  and  that  Sweet- 
nefs  and  Ravifhment  of  Soul,  that  has  been  alto- 
gether inexpreflible  ;  The  Strength  very  often 
taken  away  with  Longings  that  others  might  love 
GOD  more,  and  ferve  GOD  better,  and  have 
more  of  his  comfortable  Prefence,  than  the  Per- 
fon  that  wa-3  the  Subjedt  of  thefe  Longings,  de- 
firing  to  follow  the   whole  World  to  Heaven, 

or 


Part  I.       in  apf.rlicidar  hijiance.  J 5 

or  Uiat  every  orxC  fnould  go  before,  and  be  higher 
ill  Grace  and  Happinefs,  not  by  this  Perfon's 
Diminution,  but  by  others  Increafe  :.  A  Delight 
in  converfing  of  Things  of  Rehgion,  and  in  feeing 
Chriil:ians  together,  talking  of  the  moft  fpiritual 
and  heavenly^ Things  in  Religion,  in  a  lively  and 
feeling  Manner,  and  very  frequently  cvercome 
with  the  Pleafure  of  fuch  Converfation  :  A  great 
Senfe  often  exprefled,  of  the  Importance  of  the 
Duty  of  Chtvhy  to  the  Poor,  and  how  nnuch  the 
generality  of  Chriftians  come  fliort  in  the  Praftlce 
of  it :  A  great  Senfc  of  the  Need  GOD's  Mini- 
fters  have  of  much  of  the  Spirit  of  GOD,  at  this 
Day  efpecially  3  and  moft  earneft  Longings  and 
JbVreftlings  with  GOD  for  them,  fo  as  to  take 
il*^y  the  bodily  Strength  :  The  greateft,  fulleft^ 
Icangeft  continued,  and  moft  conftant  Aflurance 
of.  the  .Favour  of  GOD,  and  of  a  Title  to  future 
Glory,  that  ever  I  faw  any  Appearance  of  in  any 
Perfon,  enjoyifig,  efpecially  of  late,  (to  ufe  the 
Perfon'^  QW.n  Exprefiion)  The  Riches  of  full  Affu- 
r(7w^i.*  Formerly  longing  to  die  'with  fomething 
of  Impatience,  but  lately,  fmce  tha4:  Refignatioa 
fore-mentioned  about  three  Years -ago,  an  unin- 
terrupted entire  Refignation  to  GOD  witli  Re- 
fpe<Sl  to  Life  or  Death,  Sicknefs  or  Health,  Eafe 
or  Pain,  which  has  remained  unchanged  and  un- 
fliaken^  when  acStually  under  extreme  and  violent 
PainSj  and  inTimes  of  Threatnings  of  immediate 
Detach-  \  But  tho'  therebc  this  Patience  and  Sub- 
million,  yet  the  Thoughts  of  Death  and  the  Day 
of  Judgment  are  alwajs  exceeding  fweet  to  the 
Soul :  This  Refignation  is  alfo  attended  witj;i  a 

con- 


7  6        The  Nature  of  the  JVork      Pari 

conftant  Refignation  of  the  Lives  ofdeareft  earthly 
Friends,  and  fometimes  when  Ibme  of  their  Lives 
have  been  imminently  threaten'd  ;  often  expref- 
fmg  the  Sw^eetnefs  of  the  Liberty  of  having  wholly 
left  the  World,  and  renounced  all  for  GOD,  and 
leaving  nothing  but  GOD,  in  whom  is  an  infinite 
Fulnefs.  Thefe  Things  have  been  attended  with 
a  conftant  fweet  Peace  and  Calm  and  Serenity  of 
Soul,  without  any  Cloud  to  interrupt  it ;  a  con- 
tinual rejoicing  in  all  the  Works  of  GOD's  Hands, 
the  Works  of  Nature,  and  GOD's  daily  Works 
of  Providence,  all  appearing  with  a  fweet  Smile 
upon  them  ;  a  wonderful  Accefs  to  GOD  by 
Prayer,  as  it  were  feeing  him,  and  fenfibly  imme- 
diately converfing  with  him,  as  much  oftentimes, 
(to  ufe  the  Perfon'^  own  Expreffions,^  as  if  Chrift 
Were  here  on  Eartii,  fitting  on  a  vifiDle  THpojie^ 
to  be  approached  to  and  converfed  with  j  fre- 
quent, plain,  fenfible  and  immediate  Anfwers  of 
Prayer  ;  all  Tears  wiped  away  ;  all  former  Trou- 
bles and  Sorrows  of  Life  forgotten,  and  all  Sorrow 
and  Sighing  fled  away,  excepting  Grief  for  paft 
Sins,  and  for  remaining  Corruption,  and  that 
Christ  is  loved  no  more,  and  that  GOD  is  no 
more  honoured  in  the  World,  and  a  compaffionate 
Grief  towards  Fellow-Creatures  ;  a  daily  fenfi- 
ble  doing  and  fufFering  every  Thing  for  GOD, 
for  a  long  Time  paft,  eating  for  GOD,  and  work- 
ing for  GOD,  and  fleeping  for  GOD,  and  bear- 
ing Pain  and  Trouble  for  GOD,  and  doing  all  as 
the  Service  of  Love,  and  fo  doing  it  with  a  con- 
tinual, uninterrupted  Cheerfulnefs,  Peace  and 
Joy .    Oh  how  good,  faid  the  Perfon  once,  is  it 

to 


Part  I.       in  a -particular  Injiance.  77 

to  work  for  GOD  in  the  Day-time,  and  at  Night 
to  he  down  under  his  Smiles  !  High  Experiences 
and  rehgious  AfFeftions  in  this  Perfon  have  not 
been  attended  with  any  Difpofition  at  all  to  neg- 
led  the  necefiary  Bufmefs  of  a  fecular  Calling,  to 
fpend  the  Time  in  Reading  and  Prayer,  and  other 
Exercifes  of  Devotion  ;  but  worldly  Bufmefs  has 
been  attended  with  great  Alacrity,  as  Part  of  the 
Service  of  GOD  :  The  Perfon  declaring  that  it 
being  done  thus,  'tis  found  to  be  as  good  as  Prayer. 
Thefe  Things  have  been  accompanied  with  an 
exceeding  Concern  and  Zeal  for  moral  Duties, 
and  that  all  ProfefTors  may  with  them  adorn  the 
Doclrine  of  GOD  their  Saviour  ;  and  an  uncom- 
men  Care  to  perform  relative  and  focial  Duties, 
and  a  noted  Eminence  in  them  ;  a  great  Inoffen- 
fivenefs  of  Life  and  Converfation  in  the  Sight  of 
others  ;  a  great  Meeknefs,  Gentlenefs  and  Bene- 
volence of  Spirit  and  Behaviour  ;  and  a  great  Al- 
teration in  thofe  Things  that  formerly  ufed  to  be 
the  Perfon's  Failings  ;  feeming  to  be  much  over- 
come and  fwallowed  up  by  the  late  great  Increafe 
of  Grace,  to  the  Obfervation  of  thofe  that  are 
moft  converfant  and  moft  intimately  acquainted  : 
In  Times  of  the  brighteft  Light  andhigheft  Flights 
of  Love  and  Joy,  finding  no  Difpofition  to  any 
Opinion  of  being  now  perfeftly  free  from  Sin, 
(agreable  to  the  Notion  of  the  TVe/Ieys  and  their 
Followers,  and  fome  other  high  Pretenders  to 
Spirituality  in  thefe  Days  ;)  but  exceedingly  the 
contrary  :  at  fuch  Times  efpecially,  feeing  how 
loathfome  and  polluted  the  Soul  is,'Soul  and  Body 
and  every  Aa  and  Word  appearing  like  Roten- 

nefs 


78  This  is  the  IVcrk  c/Gcd.      Part  I. 

nefs  and  Corruption  in  that  pure  and  holy  Light 
of  GOD's  Glory:  not  {lio;hting  InftrucSlion  or 
Means  of  Grace  any  more  for  having  had  great 
Difcoveries  ;  on  the  contrary, never  more  fenfible 
of  the  Need  of  Inftruftion  than  now'  And  one 
Thing  more  may  be  added,  viz.  That  thefe  Things 
have  been  attended  with  a  particular  Diflike  of 
placing  Religion  much  in  Drefs,  and  fpending 
inuch  Zeal  about  thofe  Things  that  in  themfehxs 
are  Mattets  of  Indifference,  or  an  affecting  to 
fhew  Humility  and  Devotion  by  a  mean  Habit, 
or  a  demure  and  melancholy  Countenance,  or 
any  Thing  fingular  and  fuperflitious. 

Now  if  fuch  Things  are  Enthufiafm,  and  the 
Fruits  of  a  diftemper'd  Brain,  Let  my  Brain  be 
eveimore  poflefs'd  of  that  happy Diflemper  !  If 
this  be  Diflraclion,  I  pray  GOD  that  the  World 
of  Mankind  may  be  all  feized  with  this  benign, 
meek,  beneficent, beatifical,  glorious  Diflradion  ! 
If  Agitations  of  Body  were  found  in  the  French 
Prophets.,  and  Ten  Thoufand  Prophets  more,  'tis 
little  to  their  Purpofe  who  bring  it  as  an  Objection 
aojainfl  fuch  a  Work  as  tliis,  unlefs  their  Purpofe 
be  to  difprove  the  whole  of  the  Chriflian  Reli- 
gion. The  great  Affeftions  and  high  Tranfports 
that  others  h^ve  lately  been  under,  are  in  general 
of  the  fame  Kind  with  thcfe  in  the  Inftance  that 
has  been  given,  tho'  not  to  fo  high  a  Degree,  and 
many  of  them,  not  fo  pure  and  unmixed,  and  fo 
well'regulated.  I  have  had  Opportunity  to  ob- 
ferve  many  Inflances  here  and  elfewhere  ;  and 
tho'  there  are  fjme  Inflances  of  great  AfFe£tions 
inwliich  dietc  has  been  a  great  Mixture  of  Na 

ture 


Part  I.      7'his  is  the  JVork  of  God.  71 

ture  with  Grace,  and  in  fome,  a  fad  degenerating 
of  religious  Affections  ;  yet  there  is  that  Unifor- 
mity obfervable,  that  'tis  eafy  to  be  feen  that  in 
general  'tis  the  fame  Spirit  from  whence  the  Work 
in  all  Parts  of  the  Land  has  originated.     And 
what  Notions  have  they  of  Religion,   that  rej eft 
what  has  been  defcribed   as  not  true  Religion  ^ 
What  fliall  we  find  to  anfwer  thofe  Expi-eiHons  in 
Scripture,   The  Peace  cf  GOD  that  pajffs  all  Un- 
der/landing 'y—Rejoicing  zuithjoy  U7tfpeakeabhl^  full 
of  Glory  ^  in  believing  in  and  loving  an  tmfecn  Savi- 
our \— All  Joy  If^ Peace  in  believing  y—GOD's  Jhirung 
into  our  Hearts^  to  give  the  Light  of  the  Knotulsdge 
of  the  Glory  of  GOD,  hi  the  Face  ofjefus  Chrijl  ; 
iK)ith  op£n  Face^  beholding  as  in  a  Glafs^  the  Glo7y 
of  the  LfOrd^  and  being  changed  i7ito  the  fame  Imag^y 
from  Glory  to  Glory  ^  even  as  by  the  Spirit  cf  the 
Lord  \— Having  the  Love  of  GOD  Jhed  abroad  incur 
Hearts^  by  the  Holy  Ghojl  given  to  us  \"  Having  the 
Spirit  of  GOD^and  of  Glory  reji  upon  us  \— A  being 
called  out  of  Darknefs  into  marvellous  Light ;  and 
having  iheDay-Star  aiife  in  our  Hearts  :  —I  fay,  jf 
thofe  Things  that  have  been  mentioned,  don't  an- 
fwer thefe  Expreffions,  what  elfe  can  we  find  out 
that  does  anfwer  them  ?     Thofe  that  don't  think 
fuch  Things  as  thefe  to  be  the  Fruits  of  the  true 
Spirit,  would  do  well  to  c'onfider  what  Kind  of 
Spirit  they  are  waiting  and  praying  for,  and  what 
Sort  of  Fruits  they  expeit  he  fhould  produce  when 
he  comes.     I  fuppofe  it  will  generally  be  allow'd 
that  there  is  fuch  a  Thing  as  a  glorious  Out-pour- 
ing of  the  Spirit  of  God  to  be  expeded,  to  intro- 
duce very  joyful  and  glorious  Times  upon  religi- 
H  ous 


:o        Of  waiting  for  the  Fruits.  ,  Part  1/ 

ous  Accounts  ;  Times  wherein  holvLove  and  Joy 
will  be  raifed  to  a  great  Height  in  true  Chriftians  : 
But  if  thofe  Things  that  have  been  mentioned  be 
rejecSled,  what  is  left  that  we  can  find  wherewitli 
to. patch  upaNotion^or  form  anJdea^of  the  high, 
blefled,  joyful  Religion  of  thefe  Times  ?  What 
is  that  any  have  a  Notion  of,  that  is  very  fweet, 
excellent  and  joyful,  of  a  religious  Nature,  that 
is  entirely  of  a  different  Nature  from  thefe 
Things  ? 

Thofe  that  are  waiting  for  the  Fruits  in  order 
to  determine  whether  this  be  the  Work  of  God 
or  no,  would  do  well  to  confider  two  Things  ; 
I.  What  they  are  waiting  for  :  Whether  it  ben't 
this  ;  To  have  this  wonderful  religious  Influence 
that  is  on  the  Minds  of  People  over  and  paft,  and 
then  to  fee  how  they  v/ill  behave  themfelves  ? 
That  is,  to  have  Grace  fubfide,  and  the  Aftings 
of  it  in  a  great  Meafure  to  ceafe,  and  to  have 
Perfons  grow  cold  and  dead,  and  then  to  fee  whe- 
ther after  that,  they  will  behave  themfelves  with 
that  Exaclnefs  andBrightnefs  of  Converfation,that 
is  to  be  expected  of  lively  Chriflians,  or  thofe  that 
are  in  the  vigorous  Exercifes  of  Grace.  There 
are  "many  that  v^nll  not  be  fatisfied  with  any  Ex- 
aftnefs  or  Laborioufnefs  in  Religion  now,  while 
Perfons  have  their  Minds  much  moved,  and  their 
Affections  are  high  ;  for  they  lay  it  to  their  Flafli 
of  i\ffection,  and  Heat  of  Zeal,  as  they  call  it  ; 
they  are  waiting  to  fee  whether  they  will  carry 
themfelves  as  well  when  thefe  Affections  are  over 
That  is,  they  are  waiting  to  have  Perfons '  ficken 
^mdiofe  their  Strength,  that  they  may  fee  whether 

thev 


P A  R  T  I .     Of  waiting  for  the  Fruits.        8  r 

they  will   then   behave  thcmfelves   like  healthy 
ftrong  Men.     I  would  defire  that  they  would  alfo 
confider  whether  they  ben't  waiting  for  more  than 
is  reafonably  to  be  expe£ted,  fuppofing  this  to  be 
really  a  great  Work  of  God,  and  much  more 
than  haslbeen  found  in  former  great  Out-pour- 
ings of  the  Spirit  of  God,  that  have  been  uni- 
verfally  acknowledged  in  the  Chriftian  Church  ? 
Don't.they  cxpcd  fevv-er  Inftances  of  Apoftacy, 
and  Evidences  of  Hypocriiy  in  Profeflbrs,  and 
thofe  that  for  the  prefent  feem  to  be  under  the 
Influences  of  the  Spirit,  than  were  after  that  great 
Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  in  the  Apoftles  Days, 
or  that  which  was  in  the  Time  of  the  Reforma- 
tion ?     And  don't  they  ftand  prepared  to  make  a 
mighty  Argument  of  it  againft  this  Work,  if  there 
fhould  be  half  fo  many  ?     And  2.  They  would 
do  w^ll  to  confider  how  long  they  will  wait  to  fee 
the  good  Fruit  of  this  Work,  before  they  will 
determine  in  Favour  of  it.     Is  not  their  Waiting 
unlimited  ?     The  vifible  Fruit  that  is  to  be  ex- 
pelled of  a  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  on 
a  Country,  is  a  vifible  Reformation  in  that  Coun- 
try :    What  Reformation  has  lately  been  brought 
to  pafs  in  New-England^  by  this  Work,  has  been 
before  obferved  :  And  has  it  not  continued  long 
enough  already,  to  give  reafonable  Satisfadiion  ? 
If  God  can't  work  on  the  Hearts  of  a  People  after 
fuch  a  Manner,  as  to  fhew  his  Hand  fo  plainly, 
as  reafonably  to  expeft  it  fhould  be  acknov/Iedgcd 
in  a  Year  &  half,  or  two  Years  Time  ;  yet  furely 
it  is  unreafonable,  that  our  Expedations  and  De- 
mands fhould  be  unlimited,  and  our  Waiting  v/ith- 
out  any  Bounds.  As 


S2       ms  Work  is  vc'i-y  glorious.     Part  I. 

As  there  is  the  clearcft  Evidence,  from  thofe 
Things  that  have  been  obferved,  that  this  is  the 
Work  of  God,  fo  it  is  evident  that  it  is  a  very 
great  and  wonderful,  and  exceeding  glorious  Work 
of  God.  This  is  certain  that  it  is  a  great  and 
wonderful  Event,  a  ftrange  Revolution,  an  unex- 
pedled,  furprizing  Overturning  of  Things,  fud- 
denly  brought  to  pafs  \  fuch  as  never  has  been  feen 
in  NeW'Enghind^  and  fcarce  ever  has  been  heard 
of  in  any  Land.  Who  that  faw  the  State  of 
Things  in  New-England  a  few  Years  ago,  the 
State  that  it  was  fettled  in,  and  the  Way  that  we 
had  been  fo  long  going  on  in,  would  have  thought 
that  in  fo  little  a  Time  there  would  be  fuch  a 
Change  ?  This  is  undoubtedly  either  a  very  great 
Work  of  God,  or  a  great  Work  of  the  DeviJ, 
as  to  the  main  Subftance  of  it.  For  tho'  undoubt- 
edly, God  and  the  Devil  may  work  together  at 
the  fame  Time, and  in  the  fame  Land  ;  and  when 
God  is  at  work,efpecially  if  he  be  very  remarka- 
bly at  Work,  Satan  will  to  his  utmoft  endeavour 
to  intrude,  and  by  intermingling  his  Work,  to 
darken  and  hinder  God's  Work  ;  yet  God  and 
the  Devil  don't  work  together  in  producing  tlie 
fame  Event,  and  in  effeSing  the  fame  Change  in 
the  Hearts  and  Lives  of  Men  :  But  'tis  apparent 
that  there  are  fome  Things  wherein  the  main  Sub- 
ftance of  this  Work  confifts,^  a  certain  EfFeA  that 
is  produced,  and  Alteration  that  is  made  in  the 
Apprehenfions,  Affeffions,  Difpofitions  and  Beha- 
viour of  Men,  in  which  there  is  a  Likenefs  and 
Agreement  every  where  :  Now  this  I  fay,  is  either 
a  wonderful  Work  of  God,  or  a  mighty  Work 

of 


Part  I.     T'his  Work  is  very  glorious.      83 

of  the  Devil ;  and  fo  is  either  a  moft  happy  Event, 
(^reatly  to  be  admired  and  rejoiced  in,  or  a  moft 
awful  Calamity.  Therefore  if  what  has  been  faid 
before,  be  fufficient  to  determine  it  to  be  as  to 
the  Main,  the  Work  of  God,  then  it  muft  be 
acknowledged  to  be  a  ver}^  wonderful  and  glori- 
ous Work  of  Go  D . 

Such  a  Work  is  in  its  Nature  and  Kind,  the 
moft  glorious  of  any  Work  of  God  whatfoever  ; 
and  is  always  fo  fpoken  of  in  Scripture.    It  is  the 
Work  of  Redemption,  (The  great  End  of  all 
other  Works  of  God,  and  of  w^hich  the  Work 
of  Creation  was  but  a  Shadow,)   in  the  Event, 
Succefs  and  End  of  it :  It  is  the  Work  of  New- 
Creation,  that  is  infinitely  more  glorious  than  the 
Old.     I  am  bold  to  fay,  'that  the  Work  of  CtOD 
in  the  Converfion  of  one  Soul,  confidercd  toge- 
ther with  the  Source,  Foundation  and  Purchafc 
of  it,  and  alfo  the  Benefit,  End  and  eternal  Iflue 
of  it,  is  a  m.ore  glorious  Work  of  God  than  the 
Creation  of  the  whole  material  Univerfe  :  It  h 
the  moft  glorious  of  God's  Works,  as  it  abcA'c 
all  others  manifefts  the  Glovf  of  God  .*  It  is  fpo- 
ken of  in  Scripture  as  that  w^hich  fhews  the  exceed-^ 
ing  Greatnefs  of  GOD' s  Povjrr^  and  thd  Ghry  ami 
Riches  of  divine  Grace ^  and  v/herein  Christ  hai 
the  moft  glorious  Triumph  over  his  Enemies,  and 
wherein  God   is  mightily  exalted  :  And    it  is  a 
Work  above  all  others  glorious,  as  it  concerns  the 
Happinefs  of  Mankind  ;  more  Happincfs,  and  a 
greater  Benefit  to  Man,  is  the  Fruit  of  each  fingle 
Drop  of  fuch  a  Showier,  than  all  the  temporal 
Good  of  tlie  moft  happy  Revolution  in  a  Land 
H  3 


8 4      This  fFork  is  very  glorious.     P a  r  t  I. 

or  Nation  amounts  to,  or  all  that  a  People  could 
gain  by  the  Conqueft  of  the  World. 

And  as  this  Work  is  very  glorious  in  its  Na- 
ture, fo  it  is  in  its  Degree  and  Circumftances- 
It  will  appear  very  glorious  if  vv^e  confider  the 
Unworthinefs  of  the  People  that  are  the  Subjefts 
of  it;  what  Obligations  God  has  laid  us  under 
by  the  fpecial  Priviledges  we  have  enjoyed  for 
our  Souls  Good,  and  the  great  Things  God  did 
for  us  at  our  firft  Settlement  in  the  Land  ;  and 
how  he  has  followed  us  with  his  Goodnefs  to  this 
Day,  and  how  we  have  abufed  his  Goodnefs  5 
how  long  we  have  been  revolting  more  and  more, 
(as  all  confefs,)  and  how  very  corrupt  we  were 
become  at  laft  ;  in  how  great  a  Degree  we  had 
call  off  God,  and  forfaken  the  Fountain  of  living 
Waters  :  how  obftinate  we  have  been  under  all 
Manner  of  Means  that  God  has  ufed  with  us  to 
reclaim  us  -,  how  often  we  have  mocked  God 
with  hypocritical  Pretences  of  Humiliation,  as  in 
our  annual  Days  of  publick  Fafting,  aiul  other 
Things,  while  inflead  of  reforming,  we  only  grew 
worfe  and  worfc  ;  how  dead  a  Time  it  was  every 
where  before  this  '^Vork  began  :  If  w^e  confider 
thefe  Things,  wc  fhall  be  moft  ftupidly  ungrate- 
ful, if  we  don't  acknowledge  God's  vifiting  of 
us  as  he  has  done,  as  an  Inftance  of  the  glorious 
Triumph  of  free  and  fovereign  Grace. 

The  Work  i-5>  very  glorious  if  we  confider  the 
Extent  of  it  ;  being  in  this  Refpedt  vaftly  beyond 
any  former  Out-pouring  of  tlie  Spirit  that  ever 
was  known  in  Ne^tv- England,  There  has  for- 
merly fometinies  been  a  remarkable  Awakening 

and 


Part  I.     ^his  Work  is  very  glorious.      ^r^ 

and  Succefs  of  the  Means  of  Grace,  in  fome  par- 
ticular Congregation  ;  and  this  ufed  to  be  much 
taken  Notice  of,  and  acknowledged  to  be  glori- 
ous, tho'  the  Towns  and  Congregations  round 
about  continued  dead  :  But  now  God  has  bro't 
to  pafs  a  new  Thing,  he  has  wrought  a  great 
Work  of  this  Nature,  that  has  extended  from  one 
End  of  the  Land  to  the  other,  befides  what  has 
been  wrought  in  other  Britifli  Colonies  in  Ame- 
rica. 

The  Work  is  very  glorious  in  the  great  Num- 
bers that  have  to  Appearance,  been  turned  from 
Sin  to  God,  and  fo  delivered  from  a  wretched 
Captivity  to  Sin  and  Satan,  faved  from  everlaft- 
ing  Burnings,  and  made  Heirs  of  eternal  Glory. 
How  high  an  Honour,  and  great  Reward  of  their 
Labours,  have  fome  eminent  Perfons,  of  Note  in 
the  Church  of  God,  fignificd  that  they  fliould 
elleem  it,  if  they  fhould  be  made  the  Inftruments 
of  the  Converfion  and  eternal  Salvation  of  but  cne 
Soul  ?  Anci  no  greater  Event  than  that  is  tho't 
worthy  of  great  Notice  in  Hea\'en,  among  the 
Hofts  of  glorious  Angels,  who  rejoice  and  fmg  on 
luch  an  Occafion  :  and  when  there  are  many 
llioufands  of  Souls  thus  converted  and  faved, 
fhall  it  be  efteemed  worth  but  littleNotice,and  be 
mentioned  witii  Coldnefs  and  IndiiFerence  here 
on  Earth,  by  thofe  among  whom  fuch  a  Work  is 
wrought  ? 

The  Work  has  been  very  glorious  and  won- 
derful in  many  Circumflances  and  Events  of  it, 
that  have  been  extraordinary,  wherein  God  has 
in^n  uncommon  Maimer  made  hi§  Hand  vifible, 

and 


86      This  U^crk  is  very  glorious.     Part  I. 

and  his  Power  confpicuous  ;  as  in  the  extraordi- 
nary Degrees  of  Awakening,  the  Suddennefs  of 
Converfions  in  innumerable  Inftances,  in  whom 
tho'  the  Work  was  quick,  yet  the  Thing  wro't 
is  manifeftly  durable.  How  common  a  Thing  has 
it  been  for  great  Part  of  a  Congregation  to  be  at 
once  moved,  by  a  mighty  invifible  Power  5  and 
for  fix,  eight  or  ten  Souls  to  be  converted  to  God, 
(to  all  Appearance,)  in  an  Exercife,  in  whom  the 
villble  Change  ftill  continues  ?  How  great  an 
Alteration  has  been  made  in  fbme  Towns  ;  yea, 
fome  populousTowns  ;  the  Change  ftill  abiding  ? 
And  how  many  very  vicious  Perfons  have  been 
wrought  upon,  fo  as  to  become  vifibly  New-Crea-. 
tures  ?  OoD  has  alfo  made  his  Hand  very  vifible, 
and  his  Work  glorious,  in  theMultitudes  of  little 
Children  that  have  been  wrought  upon  :  I  fuppofe 
tliere  have  been  fome  Hundreds  of  Inftances  of 
this  Nature  of  late,  any  one  of  which  formerly 
would  have  been  looked  upon  fo  remarkable,  as 
to  be  worthy  to  be  recorded,  and  publiflied  thro' 
the  Land.  The  Work  is  very  glorious  in  its  In- 
fluences and  Effe6is  on  many  that  have  been  very 
ignorant  and  barbarous,  as  I  before  obferved  of 
the  Indians  and  Negroes. 

The  Work  is  alfo  exceeding  glorious  in  the 
nigh  Attainments  of  Chriftians,  in  the  extraordi- 
nary Degrees  of  Light,  Love  and  fpiritual  Joy, 
that  God  has  beftowed  upon  great  'Multitudes. 
In  this  Refpea  alfo,  The  Land  in  all  Parts  has 
abounded  with  fuch  Inftances,  any  one  of  which, 
"  If  they  had  happen'd  formerly,  would  have  been 
tiiought  worthy  to  be  taken  Notice  of  by  God^s 

People, 


Part  I.     This  Work  is  very  glorious.      87 

People,  throughout  the  Britijh  Dominions.  The 
New-jerufaUm  in  this  Refpedl  has  begun  to  come 
down  &om  Heaven,  and  perhaps  never  were  more 
of  the  Prelibations  of  Heaven's  Glorv  given  upon 
Earth. 

The:e  being  a  great  many  Errors  and  fmful  Ir- 
regularities mixed  with  this  Work  of  God,  arifmg 
from  our  Weaknefs,  Darknefs  and  Corruption, 
don't  hinder  this  Work  of  God's  Power  &  Grace 
from  being  very  glorious.  Our  Follies  and  Sins 
that  we  niix,  do  in  fome  RefpecSts  manifeft  the 
Glory  of  it  :  The  Glorjof  divinePower  &  Grace 
is  fet  ofF  with  the  greater  Luftre,  by  what  appears 
at  the  fame  Time  of  the  Weaknefs  of  the  earthen 
Veflel.  'Tis  God's  Pleafure  that  there  (hould 
be  fomething  remarkably  to  manifeft  the  Weak- 
nefs and  Unworthinefs  of  the  Subje<5t,  at  the  fame 
Time  that  he  difplays  the  Excellency  of  his  Power 
and  Riches  of  his  Grace.  And  I  doubt  not  but 
fome  of  thofe  Things  that  make  fome  of  us  here 
on  Earth  to  be  out  of  Humour,  and  to  look  on 
this  Work  with  a  four  d^fpleafed  Countenance, 
do  heighten  the  Songs  of  the  Angels,  when  they 
praife  God  and  the  Lamb  for  vi^hat  they  fee  of 
the  Glory  of  God's  All-fufficiency,  and  the  Effi- 
cacy of  Christ's  Redemption.  And  how  un- 
reafonable  is  it  that  we  (hould  be  backward  to 
acknowledge  the  Glory  of  what  God  has  done, 
becaufe  withal,  the  Devil,  and  we  in  hearkening 
to  him,  have  done  a  great  deal  of  Mifchief 


PART 


88         7le  Banger  of  lying  JlilJ      Part  II. 

PART     II. 

Shewing  the  ObHgations  that  all 
are  under,  to  acknowledge, 
rejoice  in,  and  promote  this 
WORK,  and  the  great  Danger 
of  the  contrary. 

THERE  are  many  Things  in  the  Word  of 
God,  that  fliew  thatwhenGoD  remark- 
ably appears  in  any  great  Work  for  his 
Church,  and  againft  his  Enemies,  it  is  a  moft 
dangerous  Thing,  and  highly  provoking  to  God, 
to  be  flow  and  backward  to  acknowledge  and  hon- 
our God  in  the  Work,  and  to  lie  ftil^and  not  to 
put  to  an  helping  Hand.  Chris  T'sPeopIe  are  in 
"Scripture  reprefented  as  his  Army  ;  he  is  theLoRD 
OF  Hosts  or  Armies  :  He  is  the  Captain  of  the 
Hoftofthe  Lord,  as  he  call'd  himfelf  when  he 
appear'd  to  Jojhua^  with  a  Sword  drawn  in  his 
Hand,  Jojhua  ^.  13?  14?  I5v  He  is  the  Captain 
of  his  People's  Salvation  ;  and  therefore  it  may 
well  be  highly  refented  if  they  don't  refort  to  him 
when  he  orders  his  Banner  to  be  difplayed  ;  or  if 
they  refufe  to  follow  him  when  he  blows  theTrum- 
pet,  and  glorioufly  appears  going  forth  againft  his 
Enemies.     God   expedls  that  every  living  Soul 

Ihould 


Part  II.       at  fuch  a  Time  as  this,       89 

fliould  have  his  Attention  rouied  on  fuch  an  Oc- 
cafion,  and  {hould  moft  chearfully  yield  to  the 
Call,  and  heedfully  and  diligently  obey  it  ;  Ifai. 
18.  3.  All  ye  Inhabitants  of  the  JVorld,^  and  Dwel- 
^-''s  OK  the  Earthy  fee  ye  zvhen  he  liftethup  anEnfign 
the  Mountains  \  And  when  he  hloweth  the  Trurn^ 
pctj)ear  ye,  Efpecially  (hould  ziUfrael  be  gatliered 
after  their  Captain,  as  we  read  they  were  after 
Ehud^  when  he  blew  the  Trumpet  in  Mount 
Ephraim^wh^n  he  had  flain  EglonKing  o\  A4oab^ 
Judg}  3.  27,  28.  How  fevere  is  the  martial 
Law  in  fuch  a  Cafe,  when  any  of  anArmy  refufes 
to  obey  the  Sound  of  theTrumpet,  and  follow  his 
General  to  the  Battel. ?  God  at  fuch  a  Time 
appears  in  peculiar  Manifeftations  of  his  Glory, 
and  therefore  not  to  be  afFedled  and  animated, and 
to  lie  ftill,  and  refufe  to  follow  God,  will  be  re- 
fented  as  an  highContempt  of  him.  If  a  Subjedl 
fhould  ftand  by,  and  be  a  Spectator  of  the  folem- 
'nity  of  his  Prince 'sCoronation,  and  fhould  appear 
filent  and  fullen,  when  all  the  Multitude  were 
teftifying  their  Loyalty  and  Joy,  with  loud  Ac- 
clamations ;  how  greatly  would  he  expofe  him- 
felf  to  be  treated  as  a  Rebel,  and  quickly  to  perifh 
by  the  Authority  of  the  Prince  that  he  refufes 
to  honour  ? 

At  a  Tim.e  whenGoD  manlfefts  himfelf  in  fuch 
a  great  Work  for  his  Church,  there  is  no  fuch 
Thing  as  being  Neuters  ;  there  is  a  Neceflity  of 
being  either  for  or  againft  the  King  that  then  glo- 
rioufly  appears  :  As  when  a  King  is  crownM,tnd 
f  there  are  publicManifeftations  of  Joy  on  thatOc- 
r  cafion,  there  is  nQiuch  Thing  a?  ftanding  by  as 

an 


go       The  Danger  of  lyhigjiill       Part  IL 

an  indifFerent  Speftator  ;  all  muft  appear  as  loyal 
Subjefts,  and  exprefs  their  Joy  on  that  Occafion, 
or  be  accounted  Enemies  :  So  it  always  is  when 
God,  in  any  great  Difpcnfation  of  hisProvidence, 
does  remaikably  fct  his  King  on  his  holy  Hill 
of  Zioriy  and  Chrift  in  an  extraordinary  Manner 
comes  down  from  Heaven  to  the  Earth,  and  ap- 
pears in  his  vifible  Church  in  a  great  Work  of 
Salvation  for  his  People  :  So  it  was  when  Chrift 
came  down  from  Heaven  in  his  Incarnation,  and 
appeared  on  Earth  in  his  human  Prefence  ;  there' 
was  no  fuch  Thing  as  being  Neuters,  neither  on 
his  Side  nor  againft  him  :  thofe  that  fat  ftill  and 
faid  nothing, and  did  not  declare  for  him, and  come 
and  join  with  him,  after  he,  by  his  Word  and 
Works,  had  given  fufficient  Evidence  who  he 
was,  were  juftly  looked  upon  as  his  Enemies  ;  as 
Christ  fays,  Math.  12.  30.  He  that  is  not 
with  me  is  'Ggai7:Jl  me  \  and  he  that  gather eth  not 
%vith  me^fcattereth  abroad.  So  it  is  in  a  time  when 
Christ  is  remarkably  fpritually  prefent,  as  well 
as  when  he  is  bodily  prefent  ;  and  when  he  comes 
to  cany  on  the  Work  of  Redemption  in  the  Ap- 
plication of  it,  as  well  as  in  the  Revelation  and 
Purchafe.  If  a  King  fliould  come  into  one  of  hi3 
Provinces,  that  had  been  opprefs'd  by  it's  Foes, 
where  fome  of  his  Subjefts  had  fallen  off  to  the 
Enemy,  and  join'd  with  them  againft  their  lawful 
Sovereign  and  his  loyal  Subje£ls  ;  I  fay,  if  the 
lawful  Sovereign  himfelf  (hould  come  into  the 
Province,  and  (hould  ride  forth  there  againft  his 
Enemies,  and  (hould  call  upon  all  that  were  on 
his  Side  to  come  and  gather  themfdves  to  him  ; 

there 


Part  II.         at  juch  a  Tiwe  as  this,         91 

there  would  be  no  fuch  Thing,  in  fuch  a  Cafe,  as 
ftandino-  neuter  :  they  that  lay  ftill  and  ftaid  at  a 
Diftance  would  undoubtedly  be  looked  upon  and 
treated  as  Rebels.  So  in  tlie  Day  of  Battle,when 
two  Armies  join^  there  is  no  fuch  Thing  for  any 
prefent  as  being  of  neither  Party,  all  muft  be  on 
one  Side  or  the  other  ;  and  they  that  ben't  founj 
with  the  Conqueror  in  fuch  a  Cafe,  muft  expecl 
to  have  his  Weapons  turned  againft  them,  and  to 
fall  with  the  reft  of  his  Enemies. 

When  God  manifeftshimfelf  with  fuch  glorious 
Pov/er  in  a  Work  of  this  Nature,  he  appears 
efpecially  determined  to  put  Honour  upon  hisSon, 
and  to  fulfill  his  Oath  that  he  has  fworn  to  him, 
that  he  would  make  every  Knee  to  bow,  and 
every  Tongue  to  confefs  to  him.  God  hath  had 
it  much  on  his  Heart,  from  all  Eternity,  to  glo- 
rify his  dear  and  only  begotten  Son  ;  and  there 
are  fome  fpecial  Seafons  that  he  appoints  to  that 
End,  wherein  he  comes  forth  with  omnipoteiic 
Power  to  fulfil  his  Promife  and  Oath  to  him  : 
And  thefeTimes  are  Times  of  remarkable  pouring 
out  of  his  Spirit,  to  advance  his  Kingdom  ; 
fuch  a  Day  is  a  Day  of  his  Power,  wherein  his 
People  Ihall  be  made  willing,  and  he  fhall  rule 
in  the  midft  of  his  Enemies  ;  thefe  efpecially  are 
the  Times  wherein  God  declares  his  firm  Decree 
that  his  Son  fhall  Reign  on  his  holy  Hill  of  Z/^w  : 
and  therefore  thofe  that  at  fuch  a  Time  don't 
kifs  the  Son,  as  he  then  manifefts  himfelf,  and 
appears  in  the  Glory  of  his  Majefty  and  Grace, 
expofe  themfelves  X.o  perijh  from  thcWay ^-^wlxo  be 
dajh*d  in  Pieces  with  a  Rod  of  Iron. 

I  As 


9  2     "The  Danger  of  lying  ft  ill,  ^c.     Pa.  11. 

As  fuch  a  Time  is  a  Time  wherein  God  emi- 
nently fets  his  King  en  his  holy  Hill  of  Zion,  fo 
it  is  a  l^ime  wherein  he  remarkably  fulfils  that 
in  Illii.  28.  16.  Therefore  thus  faith  the  Lord  God, 
behold,  I  lay  in  Zion  for  a  Foundation,  a  Stone,  a 
tried  StG7ie,  a  precious  Cornier  Stone,  a  fure  Foun- 
dation.  Which  the  two  Apoftles  Peter  and  Paul^ 
(i  Pet.  2.  65  7,  8.  and  Ron.  9.  33.)  join  with 
that  Prophecy,  Lai.  8.  14,  15.  And  he  Jhallhe 
for  a  San^fuary  ;  but  for  a  Stone  of  Stumbling, 
and  for  aRock  of  Offence  to  both  theHoufes  of  Ifrael, 
for  a  Gin  and  for  a  Snare  to  the  Inhabitants  of 
Jerufaletn  :  and  7na7iy  among  them  flmlljlumble  and 
fall,  and  be  broken,  and  be  fnared,  a7id  taken.  As 
fignifying  that  both  are  fulfilled  together.  Yea 
both  are  joined  together  by  the  Prophet  Ifaiah 
himfelf ;  as  you  may  fee  in  the  Context  of  that 
formentionM,  Ifai.  28.  16.  In  Ver.13.  proceed- 
ing it  is  faid.  But  the  Word  of  the  Lord  was 
unto  them  Precept  upon  Precept,  Precept  upon  Pre- 
cept ;  Li7ie  up07i  Line,  Line  upon  Line  ;  here  a  little 
mnd  there  a  little,  that  they  might  go,  and  fall  back- 
tuard,  aud  be  broken,  and fiared  and  taken.  And 
accordingly  it  always  is  fo,  that  when  Chrift  is  in 
a  peculiar  and  eminent  Manner  manififted  and 
magnified,  by  a  glorious  Work  of  God  in  his 
Church,  as  aFoundation  and  aSanftuary  for  fome, 
he  is  remarkably  a  Stone  of  Stumbling  and  aRock 
of  Offence,  a  Gin  and  a  Snare  to  otliers.  They 
that  continue  long  to  ftumble,  and  be  offended 
^  and  enfnared  in  theirMinds,at  fuch  a  great  &  glo- 
"^ousAVork  of  Chrift,  inGod's  Account,  ftumble  at 
Chrift,  and  are  offended  \^  him  j  for  the  Work  is 

that 


p 


P  A .  II.     7'he  Banger  of  not  acknowleging     9  3 

that  by  which  he  makesChrlft  manifeft,and  (hows 
his  Glory,  and  by  which  he  makes  the  Stone  that 
the  Builders  refufed^  to  become  the  Head  of  the 
Covfier.  This  (hows  how  dangerous  it  is  to  con- 
tinue always  ftumbling  at  fuch  a  Work,  for  ever 
doubting  ofit,  and  forbearing  fully  to  acknow- 
ledge it,  and  give  God  the  Glory  of  it  :  Such 
Perfons  are  in  Danger  to  go^  and  fall  backward^ 
and  be  broken^  and  fnared  and  iakcn^  and  to  have 
Chrift  a  Stone  of^StuniUingto  them,  that  fliall 
be  anOccafion  of  theirRuin  ;  while  he  is  to  others, 
a  SanSfuary^  and  2ifure   Foundation, 

The  Prophet  Ifaiah^  Ifai,  29.  14.  fpcaks  of 
God's  Proceeding  to  do  a  marvellous  Work  and 
a  Wonder,  which  fhould  ftumble  and  conl^und 
the  Wifdom  of  the  wife  and  prudent ;  which  the 
Apoftle  in  ^^j  13.  41.  applies  to  the  glorious 
Work  of  Salvation  wrought  in  thofe  Days  by  the 
Redemption  of  Chrift,  and  that  glorious  Out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  to  apply  it  that  followed  ; 
the  Prophet  in  the  Context  of  that  Place  in  Ifai. 
29.  fpeaking  of  the  fame  Thing,  and  of  the  Pro- 
phets and  Rulers  and  Seers,  thofe  wife  and 
prudent  whofe  Eyes  God  had  clofed,  fays  to  them, 
Verfe'g,  Stay  your  f elves  and  wonder.  In  the 
Original  it  is,  be  ye  flow  and  wonder,  I  leave  it 
to  others  to  confider  whether  it  ben't  natural  to 
interpret  it  thus,  *^  wonder  at  this  marvellous 
'^  Work  ;  let  it  be  a  ftrange  Thing,  a  great 
''  Myftery  that  you  know  not  what  to  make  of, 
'«  and  that  you  are  very  flow  and  backward  to 
'^  acknowledge,  long  delaying  to  come  to  a 
'^  Determination  concerning  it.'^  And  what 
I  2  Perfons 


94     ^^d  rejoicing  in  this  Work.     Part  II. 

Pcrfons  are  in  Danger  of,  that  wonder,  and  are 
thus  flow  to  acknowledge  God  in  fuch  a  Work, 
we  Jearnbythatof  the^Apoftle  in  that  foremen- 
tion'd  A6b  13.41.  Behold yeDejYifers, and  wonder 
andperijh'^  for  I  wnrk  a  IVork  in  your  Days,  a 
TVcrk  which  you  foall  in  no  wife  believe^  tho'  a  Man 
declare  it  unto  you. 

The  Church  of  Chrift  is  called  upon  greatly  to 
rejoice,  when  at  any  Time  Chrift  remarkably 
appears,  coming  to  his  Church,  to  cai-ry  on  the 
Work  of  Salvation,  to  enlarge  his  own  King- 
dom,^ and  to  deliver  poor  Souls  out  of  the  Pit 
wherein  there  is  no  Water,  in  Zech.  9.  9,  10, 
II.  Rejoice  greatly  O  Daughter  ofZion^  Jhout^  O 
Daughter  of  Jerufalem  ;  behold  thy  Ki7ig  co?neih 
unto  thee  \  h€  is  juji  and  havifig  Sahation^'-^-'His 

Do7hinion  Jhall  be  from  Sea  to  Sea^ as  for  thee 

alfo,  by  the  Blood  of  thy  Covenant^  I  have  fent  forth 
thy  Prifo7iers  out  of  the  Pit  wherei?!  is  710  Water. 
Chrift  was  pleafed  to  give  a  notable  typical  or 
fymbolical  Reprefentation  of  fuch  a  great  Event 
as  is  fpoken  of  in  that  Prophecy,  in  his  folemn 
Entry  into  the  literal  Jerufalem^  which  wa^  a 
fc  Type  of  the  Church  or  Daughter  of  Z/<?/7,  there 
fpoken  of  ;  probablv  intending  it  as  a  Figue  and 
Prelude  of  that  great  aftual  Fulfillment  of  this 
Prophecy,  that  was  to  be  after  his'Afcenfion,  by 
'  the  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  in  the  Days  of  the 
■^  Apoftles,  and  that  more  full  Accomplifhment 
tha't  fliould  be  in  the  latter  Ages  of  the  Chriftiaii 
Church.  We  have  an  Account,  that  when 
Chrift  made  this  his  folemn  Entry  into  Jerufalem^ 
and  the  whole  Multitude  of  the  -Difciples  were 

rejoicing 


Pa. II.     TheDanger  of  long  Silence  ^c.     95 

rejoicing  and  praifing  God,  with  loud  Voices, 
for  rJl  the  mighty  Works  that  they  had  fecn, 
the  Pharifees  from  among  the  Multitude  faid  to 
Chrift,  Mafier^rehuke  tky  Difc'iples  ;  but  we  are 
told,  Luke  19.39,40.  Qhx\9i  a7ifwered  and  faid 
unto  them^  I  tell  you^  that  if  thefe  Jhotdd  bold  tk'eir 
Peace^  the  Stones  would  immediately  cry  out.  Sig- 
nifying that  if  Chrift's  profeffing  Difciples  fnould 
be  unaffeded  on  fuch  an  Occafion,  and  fhould 
not  appear  openly  to  acknowledge  and  rejoice  in 
the  Glory  of  God  therein  appearing,  it  would 
manifeft  fuch  fearful  Hardnefs  of  Heart,  {o  ex- 
ceeding that  of  the  Stones,  that  the  very  Stones 
would  condemn  them^.  Sliould  not  this  make 
thofe  confider,  who  have  held  their  Peace  fo  long, 
fince  Chrift  lias  come  to  our  Zion  having  Salva- 
tion, and  fo  wonderfully  manifefted  his  Glory  in 
this  mighty  Work  of  his  Spirit,  and  fo  many  of 
his  Difciples  have  been  rcjoicttig  and praifmg'God 
v:ith  loud  Voices  ? 

It  muft  be  acknowledged  that  fo  great  and 
wonderful  a  Work  of  God's  Spirit,  is  a  Work 
v/herein  God's  Hand  is  remarkably  lifted  up^  and 
wherein  he  difplays  his  Adajejly^  and  fliows  great 
Favour  and  Mercy  to  Sinners,  in  the  glorious- 
Opportunity  he  gives  them  ;  and  by  v/hich  he- 
makes  our  Land  to  become  much  more  a  Land 
cf  Vprightnefs  :  therefore  that  Place,  Ifai.  26. 
10,  II.  fhows  the  great  Danger  of  not  feeing^ 
God's  Hai^d,  and  acknov/ledging  hi&  Glory  and 
Majefty  in  fuch  a  Work  :  Let  Favour  hejluwed 
to  the  IVicked^  yet  will  he  not  learn  Righteoufnefs  ; 
In  the  Land  ofUprightnefs  he  will  deal  unjujily^  and 
I  3  ^  will 


9  6     7he  glorious  Times  are  probably    Pa  .II. 

vj'ill  not  behold  the.' Majejly.  of  the  Lord,  Lord, 
tuhcn  thy  Hand  is  lifted  up,  they  will  not  fee  ;  but 
ilyey  Jljallfee^  and  be  ajhamed  for  tk/ir  Envy  at  the 
Peaple  y  yea  the  Fire  of  thine  Enemies  fhall  devour 
ihem. 

^Tis  not  unlikely  that  this  Work  of  God^s 
Spirit,  that  is  fo  extraordinary  and  wonderful,  is 
the  dawning,  or,  at  leaft,  a  Prelude  of  that  glori- 
ous Work  of  God,  fo  often  foretold  in  Scripture, 
which  in  the  Progrefs  and  IlTue  of  it,  fhall  renew 
the  World  of  Mankind.  If  we  confider  how  long 
fince,  the  Things  foretold,  as  whatfhould  preceed 
this  great  Event,  have  been  accomplifhed  ;  and 
how  long  this  Event  has  been  expe£ted  by  the 
Church  of  God,  and  thought  to  be  nigh  by  the 
moft  eminent  Men  of  God  in  the  Church  ;  and 
withal  confider  what  the  State  of  Things  now  is, 
and  has  for  a  confiderable  Time  been,  in  the 
Church  God,  ^  and  World  of  Mankind,  we  can^t 
reafonably  think  otherwife,  than  that  the  Begin- 
ning of  this  great  Work  of  God  muft  be  near. 
And  there  are  many  Things  that  make  it  probable 
that  this  Work  will  begin  in  America,  'Tis  fig- 
nified  that  rt  {hall  begin  in  fome  very  remote  Part 
of  the  Wo  rid,  that  the  reft  of  the  World  have  no 
Communication  with  but  by  Na\'1gation,  in  Ifai. 
60.  9.  Surely  the  Ifles  fhall  wait  for  me  ^  and  the 
Ships  ^/Tarfhifli/r/?,  to  bring  my  So?2S  from  fir. 
It  is  exceeding  manifeft  that  this  Chapter  is"  a 
Prophecy  of  the  Profperity  of  the  Church,  in  its 
moft  glorious  State  on  Earth,  in  the  latter  Days  j 
and  I  can't  think  that  any  Thing'clfe  can  be  here 
intended  but  Anwica  by'tlie  Illes  that  are  far  cfF, 

from 


Pa.  IL  to  begin  in  America.  97 

from  whence  the  Firft-born  Sons  of  that  glorious 
Day  {hall  be  brought-.  Indeed,  By  the  IJles^  in 
Prophecies  of  Gofpel-Times,  is  very  often  meant 
Europe  :  It  is  fo  in  Prophecies  of  that  great  fpread- 
ing  of  the  Gofpel  that  fhouldbe  foon  after  Chrift's 
Time,  becaufe  it  was  far  feparated  from  that 
Part  of  the  World  where  the  Church  of  God  had 
'till  then  been,  by  the  Sea.  But  this  Prophecy 
can't  have  Refpe<3:  to  the  Converfion  of  Europe^ 
in  the  Time  of  that  great  Work  of  God,  in  the 
primitive  Ages  of  the  Chriftian  Church  ;  for  it 
was  not  fulfilled  then :  The  Ifles  and  Ships  of 
Tarfhljh^  thus  underftood,  did  not  wait  for  God 
firft  \  that  glorious  Work  did  not  begin  in  Eir- 
rope^  but  in  Jeruf&lem^  and  had  for  a  confiderable 
Time,  been  very  wonderfully  carried  on  in  ^Jia^ 
before  it  reach'd  Europe,  And  as  it  is  not  that 
Work  of  God  that  is  chiefly  intended  in  this 
Chapter,  but  that  more  glorious  Work  that  fhould 
be  in  the  latter  Ages  of  the  Chriftian  Church, 
therefore  fome  other  Part  of  the  World  is  here 
intended  by  the  Ifles^  that  fhould  be  as  Europe 
then  was,  far  feparated  from  that  Part  of  the 
World  where  the  Church  had  before  been,  by 
the  Sea,  and  with  which  it  can  have  no  Commu- 
nication but  by  the  Ships  of  Tarjhtjh,  And  what 
is  chiefly  intended  is  not  the  BritiJJ^  Ifles,  nor  any 
Ifles  near  the  other  Continent ;  for  they  are  fpo- 
ken  of  as  at  a  great  Diftance  from  that  Part  of 
the  World  where  the  Church  had  'till  then  been. 
This  Prophecy  therefore  feems  plainly  to  point 
out  America^  as  th«  firft  Fruits  of  that  dorious 
Day,  ^ 

God 


9  8     T'he  glorious  T^imes. are  probably     Pa  JL 

God  has  made  as  it  were  two  Worlds  here 
beloWj  The  old  and  the  ne\v,  (according  to  the 
Names  they  are  now  called  by,)  two  great  habi- 
table Continents,  far  feparated  one  from  the 
other  ;  The  latter  is  but  newly  difcover'd,  it  was 
formerly  wholly  unknown,  from  Age  to  Age,  and 
is  as  it  were  now  but  newly  created  :  It  has  been, 
'till  of  late,  wholly  the  Poffeffion  of  Satan^  the 
Church  of  God  having  never  been  in  it,  as  it 
has  been  in  the  other  Continent,  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  World.  This  new  A^v^'orld  is  proba- 
bly now  difcovered,  that  the  new  and  moft  glori- 
ous State  of  GoD^s  Church  on  Earth  mJght  com- 
mence there  ;  ThatGoD  might  in  it  begin  a  new 
World  in  a  fpiritual  Refpe£l,  when  he  Ci;eates  the 
new  Heavens  and  72ew  Earth. 

.  God  has  already  put  that  Honour  upon  the 
other  Continent,  that  Christ  was  born  there 
literally,  and  there  made  the  Purchafe  of  Redemp- 
tion :  So,  as  Providence  obferves  a  Kind  of  equal 
Diftribution  of  Things,  'tis  not  unlikely  that  the 
great  fpiritual  Birth  of  Christ,  and  the  molt 
^ox\q\x^  Application  of  Redemption  is  to  begin  in 
this  :  As  the  elder  Sifter  brought  forth  Judah^  of 
whom  came  Christ,  and  fo  £he  was  the  Mo- 
ther of  Christ  ;  But  the  younger  Sifter,  after 
long  Barennefs,  brought  forth  Jofeph  and  Benja- 
min, the  beloved  Children.  Jofeph,  that  had  the 
moft  glorious  Apparel,  the  Coat  of  many  Colours, 
who  was  feparated  from  bis  Brethren,  and  was 
exalted  to  fuch  Glory  out  of  a  dark  Dungeon, 
and  fed  and  faved  the  World,  when  ready  to  perifli 
with  Famine,  and  was  as  a  fruitful  Boush  bv  a 

Weil, 


Part  II.         to  begin  in  Ameiica.  99 

Well,  whoTe- Branches  ran  over  the  Wall,  and 
was  bleffed  with  all  Manner  of  Bieffings  and  pre- 
cious Things,  of  Heaven  and  Earth,  through  the 
good  Will  of  him  that  dwelt  in  theBufh  ;  and  was, 
as  by  the  Horns  of  a  Unicorn,  to  pufli  the  People 
together,  to  the  Ends  of  the  Earth,  /.  e.  conquer 
the  World.  See  Gen.  49.  22,  ^ffc  and  Deut.  33. 
1-3,  GrV.  And  Benjamm^  whofe  Mefs  was  five 
Times  fo  great  as  that  of  any  of  his  Brethren, 
and  to  whom  Jofepb^  that  Type  of  rChrift,  gave 
Wealth  a^idRayment  far  beyond  all  the  reft.  G^;/. 
45.  22.'   '"-■:;  • 

The  other  Continent  hath  fialn  Chrift,  and  has 
from  Age.to  Age  fhed  the  Blood,  of  the  Saints  and 
Martyrs  of  Jefus,  and  has  often  been  as  it  v>^ere 
deluged  wkh:  the  Churches  Blood  :  God  has 
therefore  probably  referved  the  Honpur  of  building 
the  glorious  Teniple  to  the  Daughter,  that,  has 
not  flied  fo  much  Blood,  v/hen  thofe  Times  of  thej 
Peace  and  Profperity  and  Glory  of  the  Church 
fhall  commeixce^  .  that  were  t)':pified  by  the  R'eigft,^ 
oi Solomon.  .  3:,  .T  J:*"  '^'.41  At 

Tbe^ G'ontildi  firfE  i^ci^iyedr ,tfeie.  true  Religion, 
faiil ,th6 Jeu^  :. Go  q  's  Church:  of  ancient  Times, 
Hidvbeen  among'tiheim,  and  Chrift  was-.of  them  :; 
but  that  thei'e  might  be  a  Kind  of  Equality  in  the 
Difpenfations- of  Providence,  God  has  fo  ordered 
it,  that  wiien  the  Jews  come  to  be  admitted  to 
the  Benefits  o£  the  evangelical  Difpenfafion,  and 
to:  receive  their  higheft  Privlledgfes  of  alli,  they 
fhould  receive  thaGofpel  from  the  Gentiles :  Tho' 
Christ  was  of  them,  yet  they  have  been  guilty 
of  crucifying  liim  y  it  is  therefore  the  Will  of 

God, 


1 00    The  glorious  Times  are  probably    Pa. II. 

God,  that  that  People  fhould  not  hare  the  Hon- 
our of  communicating  the  BlelTings  of  the  King- 
dom of  God  in  its  moft  glorious  Statfe,  to  the 
Gentiles^  but  on  the  contrary  they  fhall  reteive  the 
Gofpel  in  the  Beginning  of  that  glorious  Day, 
from  the  Gentiles,  In  fome  Analogy  to  this,  I 
apprehend  God's  Dealings  will  be  with  the  two 
Contments.  America  has  received  the  true  Reli- 
gion of  the  oldContinent  \  the  Church  of  ancient 
Times-  has  been  there,  and  Christ  is  from 
thence  :  but  that  there  may  be  an  Equahty,  and 
iuafmuch  as  that  Continent  has  crucified  Christ, 
they  fhall  not  have  the  Honour  of  communicating 
Religion  in  its  moft  glorious  State  to  us^  but  we 
to  them. 

-The  old  Continent  has  been  the  Source  and 
Original  of  Mankind,  in  feveral  Refpefts.  The 
firft  Parents  of  Mankind  dwelt  there  3  and  there 
dwelt  i\W;  and  his  Sons;  and  there  the  fecond 
Adam  was  born,  and  was  crucified  and  rofe  again  : 
afiid  'tis  probable  that,  in  fome  Meafure  to  bal- 
lance  thefe  Things,  the  moft  glorious  Renovation 
of  the  World  fhall  originate  from  the  new  Conti- 
nent, and  the  Church  of  God  in  that  Refpeft  be 
from  hence.  And  fo  ^tis  probable  that  that  will 
come  to  pafs  in  Spirituals,  that  has  in  Temporals, 
with  Refpedt  to  America ;  that  whereas,  'till  of 
late,  the  World  was  fupplied  with  its  Silver  and 
Gold  and  earthly  Treafures  from  the  old  Conti- 
nent, now  it's  fupplied  chiefly  from  the  new,  fo 
the  Courfe  of  Things  in  fpiritual  RefpecSls  will  be 
in  like  Manner  turn'd. 

And 


Part  II.         to  begin  in  America.  loi 

And  'tis  worthy  to  be  noted  that  America  was 
difctvered  about  the  Time  of  the  ReformationjOr 
but  little  before  :  Which  Refonnation  was  the 
firfl  Thing  that  God  did  towards  the  glorious 
Renovation  of  the  World,  after  it  had  funk  into 
the  Deptlis  of  Darknefs  and  Ruin,  under  the  great 
Antichriftian  Apoftacy.  So  that  as  foon  as  tL:^ 
new  World  is  ( as  it  were)  created,  and  ftands 
forth  in  View,  God  prefently  goes  about  doing 
fome  great  Thing  to  make  Way  for  the  Intro- 
du£l:ion  of  the  Churches  Latter-DayGlory,  that  is 
to  have  its  firft  Seat  in,  and  is  to  take  its  Rife 
from  that  new  World. 

It  is  agreeable  to  Goo'sManner  of  Working, 
when  he  accomplifhes  any  glorious  Work  in  the 
World,  to  introduce  a  new  and  more  excellent 
State  of  his  Church,  to  begin  his  Work  where  his 
Church  had  not  been  till  then,  and  where  was  no 
Foundation  already  laid,  that  the  Power  of  God 
might  be  the  more  confpicuous  ;  that  the  Work 
might  appear  to  be  entirely  God's,  and  be  more 
manifeftly  a  Creation  out  of  nothing ;  agreable  to 
Hof.  I.  10.  Afid  it  jJmllcome  t'O  pafs  that  in  the 
Place  where  it  was  f aid  unto  them^  ye  are  7iot  ?7fy 
People y  there  it  Jhall  be  faid  unto  them^  ye  are  the 
Sons  of  the  livi?2g  God,  When  God  is  about  to 
turn  the  Earth  into  a  Paradice,  he  don't  begin 
his  Work  where  there  is  fome  good  Growth  al- 
ready, but  in  aWildernefs,  where  nothing  grows, 
and  nothing  is  to  be  feen  but  dry  Sand  and  barren 
Rocksi  that  the  Light  may  fhine  out  of  Darknefs, 
and  the  World  be  replenifhed  from  Emptinefs,and 
the  Earth  watered  bv  Springs  from  a  droughty 

-     Defart; 


I  o  2     The  glorious  Times  are  probably    P  a.II. 

Defart ;  agreable  to  manyPropbecies  of  Scripture, 
aslfai.  32.  15.  Until  the  Spirit  be  poured  from  en 
highland  tkeWtldemefs  hemne  a  fruitful  Field.  And 
Chap.  18.  19.  I  will  open  Rivers  in  high  Places^ 
and  Fountains  in  tl>e  Midjl  of  the  Valleys  ;  /  ii}ill 
make  the  Wildernefs  a  Pool  of  Water ^  and  the  dry 
Land  Sprijigs  of  Water  :  I  will  plant  in  the  Wil- 
dernefs the  Cedar  ^  th£  ShittahTree^  and  the  Myrtle 
and  Oyl  Tree  :  I  will  fet  in  the  Defart  the  Fir  Tree^ 
and  the  PiJie^  a?id  the  Box  Tree  together  ;  and  Ch. 
43.  20.  Iivillgive  Waters  in  the  Wildernefs^  and 
Rivers  in  the  Defart^  to  give  Drink  to  my  People ^ 
?ny^  Chofen.  And  many  other  parrallel  Scriptures 
might  be  mentioned. 

I  obferved  before,  that  when  God  is  about  to 
do  fome  great  Work  for  his  Church,  his  Manner 
is  to  begin  at  the  lower  End  ;  fo  when  he  is  about 
to  renew  the  whole  habitual  Earth,  'tis  probable 
that  he  will  begin  in  this  utmoft,meaneft,  youngeft 
and  weakeft  Part  of  it,  where  the  Church  of  God 
has  been  planted  laft  of  all  ;  and  fo  the  Firft  Ihall 
be  laft,  and  die  Laft  firft  \  and  that  will  be  ful- 
fiPd  in  an  eminent  Manner  in  Ifai.  24.  19.  Fro7n 
the  uttermoji  Part  of  the  Earth  have' we  heardSongs^ 
even  Glory  to  the  Righteous, 

There  are  fevcral  Things  that  feem  to  me  to 
argue,  that  when  the  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs,  the 
Sun  of  the  new  Heavens  and  new  Earth,  comes 
to  rife,  and  comes  forth  as  the  Bridegroo?n  of  his 
Church,  rejoicing  as  ajlrong  Man  to  run  his  Race^ 
having  his  going  forth  from  the  End  of  Heaven^  and 
his  Circuit  to  th^  End  ofit^  that  nothing  niay  be  hid 

from 


Part  U.         to  begin  in  Amciica.  103 

froTn  the  Light  and  Heat  of  it.  *  That  the  Sun 
fliall  rife  in  the  Weft,  contrary  to  the  Courfe  of 
this  World,  or  the  Courfe  of  Things  in  the  old 
Heavens  and  Earth.  The  Courfe  of  God's  Pro- 
vidence fhall  in  that  Day  be  fo  wonderfully  al- 
ter'd  in  many  RefpecSs,  that  God  will  as  it  were 
change  the  Courfe  of  Nature,  in  anfwer  to  the  . 
Prayers  of  hisChurch  ;  as  God  chang'd  the  Courfe  4 
of  Nature5and  caufed  theSun  to  go  from  the  Weft 
to  theEaft,wheni/t'2:e'y^/<^^  was  healed,  &  God  pro- 
mifed  to  do  fuch  greatThings  forhisChurch,to  de- 
liver it  out  of  the  Hand  of  the  King  of  JJJyria^  by 
that  mightySlaughter  by  the  Angel ;  which  is  often 
ufed  by  the  Prophet  Ifaiah^  as  a  Type  of  the  glo- 
rious Deliverance  of  the  Church  from  her  Ene- 
mies in  the  latter  Days  :  The  Refurredion  of 
Hezekiah, thQ  King  &  Captain  of  the  Church,  (as 
he  is  called  2  A7«.20.5.)  as  it  were  from  theDead, 
is  given  as  an  Earncft  of.  the  Churches  Refur- 
reftion  &  Salvation,  Ifai,  38.  6.  and  is  a  Type 
of  the  Refur reftion  of  Chrift.  At  the  fameTime 
there  is  a  Refurreftion  of  the  Sun,  or  coming 
back  and  rifing  again  from  the  Weft,  whether  it 

"^  •Til  evident  that  thcHoly  Spirit  in  thofcExprcfliont 
in  /y^/ 19.4,5, e^dr^r/f/,  hasRefpea  to  fomcching 
clfc  bcfidcf  the  natural  Sun ;  and  that  anEyc  \i  had 
to  the  Sim  of  Rightcoufncfi,  that  hy  hiiLighc  con- 
vert! the  Sou^,  makes  wife  the  Simple,  iDjighfcoi 
ihcEj^i,  &rejoycci  theHeart ;  and  by  hii  preached 
Gofpcl  cnlightcni*  warmi  the  World  of  Mankind. 
Bjr  the  Pfa&iift*!  own  Application  in  i>er  7.  and  the 
Apoftlei  Application  of  vir4.in  Rom.  10.  iS* 

K  had 


104  TheDanger  of  not  acknowledging^  Pa.  11. 

had  gone  down  ;  which  is  alfo  a  Type  of  the  Sun 
of  Righteoufnefs.  The  Sun  was  bro't  back  -ten 
Degrees  5  which  probably  brought  it  to  the  Me- 
ridian. The  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  has  long  been 
going  down  from  Eaft  to  Weft  ;  and  probably 
when  the  Time  comes  of  the  Churches  Delive- 
rance from  her  Enemies,  fo  often  typified  hv  the 
AJfyrians^  the  Light  will  rife  in  the  Weft,  'till  it 
fhines  through  the  World,  like  the  Sun  in  its 
meridian  Brightnefs. 

The  fame  feems  alfo  to  be  reprefented  by  the 
Courfe  of  the  Waters  of  the  Sanduary,  ^z^/f.47. 
which  was  from  Weft  to  Eaft  ;  which  Waters 
undoubtedly  reprefent  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  the  Pro- 
grefs  of  his  faving  Influences,  in  the  latter  Ages 
of  the  World  :  for  'tis  manifeft  that  the  Avhole  of 
thofe  laft  Chapters  of  Ezekiel^  are  concerning  the 
glorious  State  of  the  Church  that  fhall  then  be. 

And  if  w^e  may  fuppofe  that  this  gloriousWork 
of  God  fhall  begin  in  any  Part  of  America^  I 
think,  if  we  confider  the  Circumftances  of  the 
Settlement  oi  New- England^  it  muft  needs  appear 
the  moft  likely  of  all  American  Colonies,  to  be 
the  Place  whence  this  Work  fhall  principally  take 
it's  Rife. 

And  if  thefe  Things  are  fo,  it  gives  Us  more 
abundant  Reafon  to  hope  that  what  is  now  i^^n 
in  America^  and  efpecially  in  New-England^  may 
prove  the  Dawn  of  that  glorious  Day  :  And  the 
very  uncommon  &  wonderful  Circumftances  and 
Events  of  thisWork,feem  to  me  ftrongly  to  argue 
that  God  intends  it  as  theBeginning  orForerunner 
of  fome  Tiling  vaftly  great. 


Pa.  II.      and  encouraging  this  Work.     105 

I  ha\'e  thus  long  infifted  on  this  Point,  becaufe 
if  thefe  Things  are  fo,  it  greatly  manifefts  hov^ 
much  it  behoves  us  to  encourage  and  promote 
this  Work,  and  how  dangerous  it  will  be  to  for- 
bear fo  to  do. 

It  is  very  dangerous  for  God's  profeffingPecple 
to  lieftill,  and  not  to  come  to  the  Help  of  the 
Lord, whenever  he  remarkably  pours  out  hisSpirit, 
to  carry  on  the  Work  of  Redemption  in  the  Ap- 
plication of  it  ;  but  above  all,  when  he  comes 
forth  in  tliat  laft  and  greateft  Out-pouring  of  hJs 
Spirit,  to  introduce  that  happy  Day  of  God's 
Power  &  Salvation,  fo  often  fpoken  of.  That  is 
efpecially  the  appointed  Seafon  of  the  Application 
of  the  Redemption  of  Christ  :  'Tis  the  pro- 
per Time  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  uponEarth, 
the  appointed  Time  of  Christ's  Reign  :  The 
Reign  of  Satan  as  God  of  this  World  lafts  'tiH 
then:  This  is 'the  properTime  of  actual  Redemp- 
tion, or  new  Creation,  as  is  evident  by  Ifai.b^. 
17,18.  &  66.  12.  &  Rev.  21. 1.  All  the  Out- 
pourings of  the  Spirit  of  God  that  are  before 
this,  are  as  it  were  by  Way  of  Anticipation. 

There  was  indeed  a  glorious  Seafon  of  the 
Application  of  Redemption,  in  the  firlt  Ages  of 
the  Chrlftian  Church,  that  began  at  yerufalem^  on 
the  Day  of  Pentecoji  ;  but  that  was  not  the  proper 
Time  of  Ingathering  ;  it  was  only  as  it  were  the 
Feaft  of  the  firft  Fruits  ;  the  Ingathering  is  at 
the  End  of  the  Year,  or  in  the  laft  Ages  of  the 
Chriftian  Church,  as  is  reprefented,  Rev.  14. 
14,  15,  16.  and  will  probably  as  much  exceed 
what  was  in  the  firllAges  of  the  ChriftianChurch, 
K  2  tho* 


2o6     The gloriousBay  of  the  Church    Pa. II. 

tho'  tliat  filPd  the  Rotmn  Empire,  as  that  ex- 
ceeded all  that  had  been  before,  under  the  old 
Teftament,  confined  only  to  the  Land  oijtidea. 

The  great  Danger  of  not  appearing  openly  to 
acknowledge,  rejoyce  in,  and  promote  that  great 
Work  of  God,  in  bringing  in  that  glorious  Har- 
veft,  is  reprefented  in  Zcch.  14.  1^6, 17, 18, 19. 
Jnd  it  Jhallcome  to  pafsy  that  every  one  that  is  Icft^ 
cf  all  the  Nations^  which  come  agaitijl  Jerufalem^ 
/hall  even  go  up^  from  Tear  to  Tear,  to  worjhip  the 
King^  the  Lord  of  Hojls^  ajid  to  keep  the  Feajl  of 
Tabernacles.  And  it  Jhall  he^  that  zuhofo  will  7iot 
come  up^  of  all  the  Families  of  the  Earthy  imto 
Jerufalem,  to  worjhip  the  King,  the  Lord  of  Hojis^ 
even  upon  them  Jhall  be  no  Rain.  Jnd  if  the  Family 
^  Egypt  ^^  7iotup^  and  come  not,  that  have  noRain, 
there  fhall  he  the  Plague  whertvuith  the  Lord  will 
fmite  the  Heathen,  that  come  not  up  to  keep  the  Feaji 
of  Tabernacles.  This  Jhall  be  the  Punijhment  of 
r;g}^pt,  and  the  Punijhment  of  all  Nations  that  come 
not  up  to  keep  tbe  FeaJI  of  Tabernacles.  *Tis  evi- 
dent by  all  the  Context,  that  the  glorious  Day  of 
theChurch  of  God  in  the  latterAges  of  theWorld, 
is  the  Time  fpoken  of  :  The  Fenjl  of  Tabernacles 
here  feems  to  fignify  that  glorious  fpiritual  Feafl:, 
which  God  (hall  then  make  for  his  Church,  the 
fame  that  is  fpoken  of  Ifai.  25.  6.  and  the  great 
fpiritual  Rejoycings  of  GoD'sPeopIe  at  thatTime. 
There  were  three  great  Feafts  in  Ifrael,  at  which 
all  the  Males  were  appointed  to  go  up  to  Jerufa- 
lem y  the  Feaft  of  the  PaJJover  ;  and  the  Feaft  of 
the  firji  Fruits,  or  the  Feaft  of  Pentecoji  ;  and 
the  Feaft  of  Ingathering,    at  the  Eiid   of    tlie 

Year, 


P.II.  reprefentedby  theFeaft  of^abernacles.  i  o  7 

Year,  or  the  Feaft  oLTabernacks.  In  the  firft  of 
thefe,  viz.  TI?e  Feaji  of  the  Pajfover^  was  repre- 
fented  the  Purchafe  of  Redemption  by  Jefiis 
Chrift,  the  Pafchal  Lamb,  that  was  flain  at  the 
Time  of  that  Feaft.  The  other  two  that  follow- 
ed it,  were  to  reprefent  the  two  great  Seafons  of 
the  Application  of  the  purchafed  Redemption  :  In 
the  former  of  them,  viz.  the  Fcaji  of  the  firjl 
FrUitSy  which  was  called  the  Feaft  of  Pentecoji^ 
was  reprefented  that  Time  of  the  Out-pouring  of 
the  Spirit,that  was  in  the  firftAges  of  theChriftian 
Church,  for  the  bringing  in  the  frji  Fruits  oi 
Chrift 's  Redemption,  which  began  at  Jcrufahm^ 
on  the  Day  oiPentecoJi  :  The  other,  which  was 
the  Fea/l  of  Ingatherings  at  the  End  of  the  Year, 
which  the  Children  of  IfraeJ  were  appointed  to 
keep  on  Occafion  of  their  gathering  in  their  Corn 
and  their  Wine,  and  all  the  Fruit  of  their  Land, 
and  was  called  the  FeaJi  ofTatermc/es^re^^efcntcd 
the  other  more  joyful  and  glorious  Seafon  of  the 
Application  of  Chrift's  Redemption,  which  is  to 
be  in  the  latter  Days  ;  the  great  Day  of  Ingather- 
ing of  the  Eleft,  the  proper  and  appointed  Time 
of  gatherings  in  God's  Fruits,  when  the  Angel  of 
the  Covenant  fhall  thruft  in  his  Sickle,  and  gather 
the  Harveft  of  the  Earth  ;  and  the  Clufters  of  the 
Vine  of  the  Earth  (hall  alfo  be  gathered.  This. 
was  upon  many  Accounts  the  greateft  Feaft  of  the 
three  :  There  were  much  greater  Tokens  of  Re- 
joycing  in  this  Feaft,thanany  other  :  The  People 
•then  dwelt  in  Booths  of  green  Bouehs,  and  were 
commanded  to  take  Boughs  of  ^goodly  Trees^ 
Branches  of  Palm-Trees,  and  the  Boughs  of  thick 
K  3  Tree:., 


I  €  8  "The  Danger  of  not  acknowteging^  P  a  .  II. 

Trees,  and  Willov/s  of  the  Brook,  and  torejoycc 
before  theLord  their  God  :  Which reprefents  the 
flourifhing,beautiful5pleafantStatetheChurchfhall 
be  injrejoycing  inGoo'sGrace  &  Lovejtriumph- 
ing  over  aJl  her  Enemies,  at  the  Time  typified  by 
thisFeaft.  The  Tabernacle  of  God  was  firft 
fet  up  among  the  Children  of  Ifraely  at  the  Time 
of  Xh^  Feaji  of  Tahernacles  ;  but  in  that  glorious 
Time  of  the  Chriftian  Church,  God  will  above 
all  other  Times  fet  up  his  Tabernacle  amongft 
Men.  Rev.  21.  3.  And  I  luard  a  gyyat  Voice  qui 
of  Heaven  J  f^yi'^^g-i  ^^  T'abernacle  of  God  is  luith 
Men^  and  he  will  dwdl  with  them^  ayid  they  Jh all 
he  his  People^  and  God  himfelf  /hall  he  with  them^ 
and  be  their  God.  The  World  is  fuppofed  to  have 
been  created  about  the  Time  of  Ye^j:  wherein  the 
Feajl  of  Tabernacles  was  appointed  ;  fo  in  that  glo- 
rious Time,  God  v^ill  create  a  new  Heaven,  and 
a  new  Earth.  The  Temple  of  Solomon  was  de- 
dicated at  the  Time  of  the  Feaji  of  Tabernacles^ 
when  God  defcended  in  a  Pillar  of  Cloud,  and 
dwelt  in  the  Temple  ;  fo  at  this  happy  Time,  the 
Temple  of  God  fhall  be  glorioufly  built  up  in 
the  World,  and  God  (hall  in  a  wonderful  Man- 
ner come  down  from  Heaven  to  dwell  with  his 
Church.  Chrift  Is  fuppofed  to  have  been  born  at 
the  Feaft  of  Tabernacles  i  fo  at  the  Commence- 
ment of  that  glorious  Day,  Chrift  (hail  be  born  ; 
then  above  all  otherTimes  fhall  the  Womoii  cloathed 
with  the  Sun^  vjith  the  Moon  under  her  Feet^  that 
2S  in  Travail^  and  pained  to  be  delivered^  bring  forth 
her  Son^  to  Rule  all  Nations^  Rev.  12.  at  the  Be- 
^j-inninrr.  The  Fea/I  of  Tabernacles,  was  the  laft 
^  Feaft 


Pa  II.      andrejoycitjg  in  this  JVork.        109 

Feaft  that  Ifrael  had  in  the  whole  Year^before  the 
Face  of  the  Earth  was  deftroyed  by  the  Winter  ; 
prefcntly  after  the  Rejoycings  of  that  Feaft  were 
part,  a  tempeftuous  Seafon  began.  A61:.  27.  9. 
Sailing  was  now  danger  ous^hecaufe  the  Feaft  was  now 
already  paji.  So  this  great  Feaft  of  the  Chriftian 
Church  will  be  the  laft  Feaft  ftie  ftiall  have  on 
Earth  :  foon  after  it  is  paft,  this  lower  World 
will  be  deftroyed.  At  the  Feaft  of  Tabernacles, 
Ifrael  left  their  Houfes  to  dwell  inBooths  or  green 
Tents,  which  fignifies  the  great  Weanednefs  of 
God's  People  from  the  World,  as  Pilgrims  and 
Strangers  on  theEarth,and  their  great  Joy  therein. 
^Ifrael  were  prepared  for  the  Feafi  of  Tabernacles^ 
by  the  Feafi  of  Trumpets^  and  the  Day  of  Atone- 
ment both  on  the  fame  Month  ;  fo  Way  fliall  be 
made  for  the  Joy  of  the  Church  of  God,  in  its 
glorious  State  on  Earth,  by  the  extraordinary 
preaching  of  the  Gofpel,  and  deep  Repentance 
and  Humiliation  for  paft- Sins,  and  the  great  and 
long  continued  Deadnefs  and  Carnality  of  the  vifi- 
bleChurch.  Chrift  at  the  great />^  ofTaberna- 
cles^  ftood  in  yerufalem^  and  cried ^  f^yi^gt  ^f  ^^y 
Man  thirfi^  let  him  come  unto  me  ^  drink  :  He  that 
lelieveth  onme^  as  the  Scripture  hath  f aid  ^  out  of  his 
Belly  Jhall flozu  Rivers  of  livingTVaiers  :  Signifying 
the  extraordinary  Freedom  and  Riches  of  divine 
■  Grace  towards  Sinners,  at  that  Day,  and  the  ex- 
traordinary Meafures  of  the  Holy  Spirit  that  fhall 
be  then  given  ;  agreable  to  Rev.  21.6.  iff  22.17. 

.  It  is  threatnei  here  in  this  14th  Chap,  of  ZecL 
that  thofe  who  at  thatTime  fhall  not  come  to  keep 
this  Feaft  i  i.e.  that  fliall  not  acknowlege  Gob's 


iio  Danger  of  oppfing  Pa. 11. 

glorious  Works,  and  praife  his  Name,  and  rejoyce 
•with  his  People,  but  fhould  ftand  at  a  Diftance^ 
as  unbelieving  and  difaffe^Sted  ;  upon  them  Jhall  he 
no  Rain  ;  and  that  this  fhall  be  the  Plague  where- 
with they  (hall  all  be  fmitten  :  that  is,  they  {hall 
have  noShare  in  thatShower  of  divineBleffing  that 
{hall  then  defcend  on  the  Earth,  that  fpiritualRain 
fpoken  of,  //^/.  44.  3.  But  God  would  give  them 
over  to  Hardnefs  of  Heart  and  Blindnefs  of  Mind, 

The  Curfc  is  yet  in  a  more  aw^ful  Manner  de- 
nounced again{l  Uich  as  fhall  appear  as  Oppofers 
at  that  Time,  Ver.  12.  Jnd  this  Jhall  he  thePlague^ 
vjherHvith  the  Lord  Jhall  fmite  all  the  People  that 
have  fought  againji  Jerufalem,  Their  Flejh  Jhall 
cmfjunis'  azuoy  ivhlle  they  (land  upon  their  Feet^  and 
■their  Eyes  Jhall  con  fume  ■  away  in  their  Holes  ^  and 
their  TTongue  p)all  coyifume  away  in  their  Mouth, 
Here  alfo  in  all  probability  it  is  a  fpiritual  Judg- 
ment, or  a  Plague  and  Curfe  from  God  upon  the 
Soul,  rather  than  upon  the  Body, that  is  intended  ; 
that  fuch  Perfons,  who  at  that  Time  {hall  dppofe 
God '5  People  in  his  Work,  {hall  in  an  extraor- 
dinary Manner  be  given  over  to  a  State  of  fpiritual 
Death  &  Ruin,  that  they  {hall  remarkably  appear 
dead  while  alive,  and  {hall  be  as  walking  rotten 
Corpfes,   while  they  go  about  amongli  Men. 

,The  great  Danger  of  not  joining  with  God's 
People  at  that  gloriousDay  is  alforeprefented,  Ifai. 
60.  12.  For  the  Nation  and  Kingdom  that  will  not 
ferveihee  Jhall perijh  ;  yea^  thofe  Nations  Jhall  be  ut- 
Urly  wajled. 

Mo{l  of  the  great  temporal  Deliverances  that 
were  wro't  for  Ifraeloi  old,  as  Divines  andJExpo^ 

fitors 


Pa.  II.  or  lying  ft  ill.  iii 

fircrs  obferve,  were  typical  of  the  great  fpiritual 
Works  of  God  for  the  Salvation  of  Men's  Souls, 
and  the  Deliverance  and  Profperity  of  liisChurch, 
in  the  Days  of  theGofpel ;  and  efpecially  did  they 
rcprcfent  that  areateft  of  all  Deliverances  of  God's 
Church,  and  Chief  of  God's  Works  of  aftual 
Salvation,  that  fnall  be  in  the  latter  Days  ;  which 
as  has  been  obferved  is  above  all  others,  the  ap- 
pointed Time,  and  proper  Seafon  of  aduSrl  Re- 
demption of  Men's  Souls.  But  it  may  be  ob- 
ferved that  if  any  appeared  to  oppofe  God's 
Work  in  thofe?  great  temporal  Deliverances  ; 
or  if  there  were  any  of  his  profeiTmg  People,  that 
on  fuch  Occafions  lay  ftill,and  ftood  at  a  Diftance, 
and  did  not  arife  and  acknowlege  God  in  his 
Work,  and  appear  to  promote  it  5  it  was  what 
in  a  remarkable  Manner  incenfed  God's  Anger, 
and  brought  his  Curfe  upon  fuch  Perfons. 

So  when  God  wrought  that  great  Work  of 
bringing  the  Children  of  Ifrael  out  of  Egypt^ 
(which  w^as  aType  of  God's  delivering  hisChurch 
out  of  the  fpiritual  Egypt^  at  the  Time  of  the 
Fall  oi  Jntichriji^  as  is  evident  by  iJ^.ii.8.  and 
15,3.)  Howhf^hly  did  God  refent  it,  when  thV 
Jmalekites  appeared  as  Oppcfers  in  that  Affair  ? 
and  how  dreadfully  did  he  curfe  them  for  it  ?  Exod. 
17.  14,  15,  16.  And  the  Lord  /aid  unto  Mofes, 
IVrite  this  for  a  Mernorial  in  a  Book^  and  rehearfe 
it  in  the  Ears  of  ^o{!ti\x2i  ;  for  I  will  utterly  put  out 
theRemerjibrance  of  Am2\ckfrGm  ujider Heaven,  And 
Mofcs  huilt  an  Altar ^  and  called  the  Name  of  it 
Je'hov.-ih-Niffi  ;  For  he  faid^  bscaufe  the  Lord  will 
have  War  with  Amdil^k^  from  Generation  to  Gene- 

ratioru 


1 1 2         TheD anger  of  lying  fiilL         P a  .  II. 

ration.  And  accordingly  we  find  that  God  re- 
membered it  a  long  Time  after,  i  Sa???.  15.  3. 
And  how  highly  did  God  refent  it  in  the  Moabites 
and  Ammonites^  tliat  they  did  not  lend  an  heipin:: 
Hand,  and  encourage  and  promote  the  Affair  : 
Deut.  23.  3,4.  ^«  Ammonite  oryio2ihht  Jhall not 
enter  into  the  Congregation  of  the  Lord ;  even  to  their 
tenthGeneration^Jhall  they  not  enter  into  theCongrega- 
iion  of  the  Lord  forever  \  becaufe  they  met  you  not  with 
Bread  and  vjith  IVater^  in  the  JVay  when  ye  cojne 
forth  outofY.%yy^X.  And  how  were  theChildren  of 
.  Reuben^  and  the  Children  of  Gad^  and  the  half 
Tribe  of  Manajfeh  threatned,  if  they  did  not  go 
and  help  their  Brethren  in  their  Wars  againft  the 
Canaanites^  Deut.32.  20,  21,  22,  23.  ^-^^Mofes 
faid  unto  them^  If  ye  will  do  this  Things  if  ye  wiil 
go  armed  before  the  Lord  to  War^  and  will  go  all  of 
you  armed  over  Jord^Uy  before  the  Lord^  until  h^ 
bath  driven  out  his  Enemies  from  before  him  ^  and  the 
l^and  he  fubdued  before  the  Lcrd^  then  afterward  ye 
Jhall  return  and  be  guihlefs  before  the  Lord^  &  before 
Ifrael,  ayidthis  Land  [hall  be  your  Poffeffion  before 
thelu07'd :  But  if  ye  will  not  dofo^  behold  ye  havefnned 
againjithe  Lord^  and  be  fur e  your  Sin  will  f  mi  you 
out. 

That  was  a  glorious  Work  of  GoDthat  he  wro't 
ioxlfrael^  when  he  deliver^  them  from  xh^Canaan- 
ites.hy  thQH?,ndo{ Deborah  ScBarak  :  almoft  every 
Thing  about  it  fhewed  a  remarkable  Hand  of 
God.  It  was  a  Prophetefs,  one  immediately  in- 
fptrM  by  God,  that  called  thePeople  to  theBattle, 
and  conduced  them  in  the  whole  Affair  :  The 
People  feem  to  have  been  miraculoully  animated 

and 


Pa.  II.        7he  Danger  of  lying  JiilL        1 13 

and  encouraged  in  theMatter,when  they  willingly 
offered  themfelves,  and  gathered  together  to  the 
Battle  ;  they  jeoparded  their  Lives  in  the  high 
Places  of  theField, without  being  prefied  or  hired  ; 
v/hen  one  would  have  thought  they  fhould  ha\'e 
but  little  Courage  for  fuch  an  Undertaking  ;  for 
what  could  a  Number  of  poor,  weak,  defencekfs 
.  Slaves  do,  without  a  Shield  orSpear  to  he  fceyi  among 
forty  Tlyoufandof'em^  to  go  againft  a  great  Prince, 
with  his  mighty  Hoftj  and  nine  Hundred  Char-iots 
of  Iron.  And  the  Succefs  did  wonderfully  fhew 
the  Hand  of  God  ;  which  makes  Deborah  exult- 
ingly  to  fay,  Judg.  5.  21.  O  my  Soul^  thou  hajl 
mdden  down  Strength  !  Christ  with  his  hea- 
venly Hoft  w^s  engaged  in  that  Battle  ;  and  there- 
fore 'tis  faid,  Ver.  20.  They  fought  from  Heaven^ 
the  Stars  in  theirCourfes fought  againjl?i\kx2i.  The 
Work  of  God  therefore  in  this  Vidlory  and  De- 
liverance that  Christ  and  his  Hoft  wrought  for 
Ifrael^  was  a  Type  of  that  Vidiory  and  Delive- 
rance which  he  will  accomplifh  for  his  Church 
in  that  great  Battle,  that  laft  Conflict  that  the 
Church  {hall  have  with  her  open  Enemies,  that 
fhali  introduce  the  Churches  Latter-Day  Glory  ; 
as  appears  by  Rev.  16.  16.  (jpeaking  of  that  great 
Battle, )  Arid  he  gathered  them  together  into  a  Place^ 
called  in  the  Hebrew  y^/Tg-^^,  Armageddon,  i.e.  the 
Mountain  of  Megiddo  ;  alluding,  as  is  fuppofed 
by  Expofitors,  to  the  Place  where  tlie  Battle  was 
fought  with  the  Hoft  of  Sifera^  Judg.  5.19.  The 
Kings  came  and  fmght^  the  Kings  of  Canaan,  in 
Taanach,  by  the  Waters  ^Megiddo.  Which  can 
fignify  nothing  elfe,  than  th^t  this  Battle,  w^hich 

Chrift 


114        The  D anger ^of  lying  JlilL       P  a  .  1 1. 

Chrift  &  hisChurchfhall  have  with  theirEnemies, 
is  theAntitype  of  theBaltlc  that  was  fought  there. 
But  what  a  dreadful  Curfe  from  Chrift,  did  fome 
of  God's  profefTing  People  Ifrael^  bring  upon 
themfelves,  by  lying  ftill  at  that  Tifne,  and  not 
putting  to  an  helping  Hand  ?  Judg.5.23.  Curfe  ye 
Merozjy^/W  the  Angel  of  the  Lord  ^  curfe  ye  bitterly  the 
Inhabitants  thcreoff?ecaufe  they  ccnne.  hot  to  the  Help  of 
iheLord^  to  the  Help  of  the  Lord  againji  the  Mighty. 
The  Angel  of  theLord  was  theCaptain  of  theHoit; 
he  that  had  led  Ifrael^  and  fought  for  them  in  that 
Battle,who  is  very  often  called  the  Angel  of  theLord^ 
in  Scripture;  the  fame  that  appeared  tojofhiia  with 
a  Sword  drawn  in  his  Hand,  and  told  him  that 
he  was  come  as  the  Captain  of  the  Hofl  of  the  Lord  ; 
and  the  fame  glorious  Captain  that  we  have  an 
Account  of,  as  leading  forth  his  Hofts  to  that 
Battle, of  which  this  was  theType,^^.  19. 1 1  ^^c. 
It  feems  thelnhabitants  oi Meroz  were  unbelieving 
concerning  this  great  Work,  nor  would  they 
hearken  to  Deborah's  Pretences,  nor  did  it  enter 
into  them  that  fuch  a  poor  defencelefs  Company, 
(hould  ever  prevail  againft  thofe  that  were  fo 
Mighty  ;  they  did  not  acknowlege  the  Hand  of 
God,  and  therefore  ftood  at  a  Diftance,  and  did 
nothing  to  promote  the  Work  :  but  what  a  bitter 
Curfe  from  God,  did  they  bring  upon  themfelves 
by  it  ! 

*Tis  very  probable  that  one  great  Reafon  why 
the  Inhabitants  oi  Meroz  were  fo  unbelieving  con- 
cerning thisWork,  was  that  they  argued  aPriori ; 
they  did  not  like  the  Beginning  of  it,  it  being  a 
Woman  that  firft  led  the  Way,  and  had  the  chief 

Conduit 


P A .  II.        Tie  Banger  of  lying  fiilL        1 1 J 

Condua  in  theAfFair  ;  nor  cbifld  they  bcli'eA'e  that 
fuch  defpicable  Inftruments,  as  a  Company  ot 
unarmed  Slaves,  were  ever  like  to  efFeft  lo  great 
a  Thing  ;  and  Pride  and  Unbelief  v^ro't  together, 
in  not  being  willing  to  follow  Deborah  to  the  Battle. 
It  was  another  glorious  Work  of  God  that  he 
wro'tfor  Ifrael^  In  the  Vidory  that  was  obtained 
by  Gideon  over  the  Midianites  and  A?na le kites  ^  and 
the  Children  6i  the  Eaft,  when  they  came  up 
againft  Ifrael  like  Grafhoppers,  a  Multitude  that 
could  not  be  numbered.  This  alfo  was  a  remar- 
kable Type  of  the  Vidlory  of  Christ  and  his 
Church  over  his  Enemies,  by  the  pouring  out  of 
the  Spirit  with  the  preachedGofpel,as  is  evident 
by  the  Manner  of  it,  which  Gideon  was  immedi* 
ately  direcSled  to  of  God  ;  which  was  not  by 
human  Sword  or  Bow,  but  only  by  blowing  of 
Trumpets,  and  by  Lights  in  earthen VelTels.  We 
read  that  on  this  Occafion,  Gideon  called  the  Peo- 
ple together  to  help  in  this  great  Affair  ;  and  that 
accordingly,  great  Numbers  reforted  to  him,  and 
came  to  the  Help  of  the  Lord,  Judg,  7.  23,  24. 
But  there  were  fome  alfo  at  that  Time, that  were 
unbelieving, and  would  not  acknowledge  theHand 
of  God  in  that  Work,  tho'  it  was  fo  great  and 
wonderful,nor  would  they  join  to  promote  it ;  and 
they  were  the  Inhabitants  of  Succoth  and  Penuel : 
Gideon  defired  their  Help,  when  he  was  purfuing 
after  Tiehah  and  Zalmunna  ^  but  they  defpifed  his 
Pretences,and  hisConfidenceof  the  Lord^s  being 
on  his  Side,  to  deliver  thofe  two  great  Princes  into 
the  Hands  of  fuch  a  defpicable  Company,  as  he 
and  his  three  Hundren  Men,  and  would  not  own 
L  tlic 


ii6       The  Danger  of  lying JlHl.        Pa.  II. 

the  Work  of  Gor,  nor  afford  Gideon  any  Affift- 
ance  :  God  proceeded  in  this  Work  in  a  Way 
that  was  exceeding  crofs  to  theirPride.  And  they 
alfo  refufed  to  own  theWork^becaufe  they  argued 
a  Priori  y  they  could  not  believe  that  God  would 
do  fuch  great  Things  by  fuch  a  defpicable  Inftru- 
ment ;  one  of  fuch  a  poor,  mean  Family  in 
MandJJehy  and  he  the  leaft  in  his  Father's  Houfe  i 
and  theCompany  that  was  with  him  appeared  very 
wretched,  being  but  three  Hundred  Men, and  they 
weak  &  faint  :  But  we  fee  how  they  fuffcred  for 
their  FoUy^  in  not  acknowleging,  and  appearing 
to  promote  this  Work  of  God.  Gideon  when  he 
returned  from  the  Viftory,  tGokthcm^  and  iaugjyt 
ih cm  with  the  Briers  and  TI? orris  of  the  Wildtrnefs^ 
and  heat  down  the  Tower  of  Penuel,  (  he  brought 
down  their  Pride,  and  their  falfe  Confidences^  djid 
flew  the  Men  of  the  City,  Judg.  Chap.  8.  This, 
ih  all  probability  Gideon  did,  as  mo\'ed  &  dire(5ted 
b"y  the  Angel  of  the  Lor d  ^  that  is  Ch  r  is  t  ,  that 
firft  called  him,  and  fent  him  forth  in  this  Battle, 
and  inftrucled  &  dire6led  him,  in  the  wholeAffair. 
'The  Return  of  the  Ark  of  God  to  dwell  in 
Zion,  in  the  midft  of  the  Land  of  Ifracl,  after  it 
had  been  long  abfent,  firft  in  the  Land  of  the  P/;/- 
lijlmesy  and  then  in  Kirjath-jearhn,  in  the  utmoft 
Borders  of  the  Land,  did  livelily  reprefent  the  Re- 
turn of  God  to  a  profefling  People, in  the  fpirltual 
Tokens  of  his  Prefence,  after  Jong  Abfence  from 
them  ;  as  well  as  the  Ark's  afcending  up  into  a 
Mountain,  typified  Christ's  Afcenfion  intoHea- 
ven.  'Tis  evident  by  the  Pfalms  that  werepenn'd 
on  that  Occafion,  efpeciajly  the  68th  Pfalniy  that 

the 


Part  II.     7'he  Dagger  of  lying  ftill      1 1 7 

the  exceeding  Rcjoyclngs  of  Ifiael  on  that  Occa- 
fion,reprefentedtheJoyoftheChiirch  of  Christ, 
on  his  returning  to  it,  after  it  has  been  in  a  low 
and  dark  State,  to  revive  his  Work,  bringing  his 
People  back^  as  it  were  from  Baflian,  and  from  the 
Depth  of  the  Sea^  fcattering  their  fpiritualEnemies, 
and  caufing  that  tho^  they  had  lien  among  the  Pots^ 
yet  theyjhould  be  as  the  Wings  of  a  Dove  ^  covered  with 
Silver^  and  her  Feathers  zvith  yellow  Gold  ;  and 
giving  the  blefled  Tokens  of  his  Prefence  in  his 
Houfe,  that  his  People  md.y  fee  the  Goings  of  God 
their  King  in  his  San^tiary  ;  and  that  the  Gifts 
which  David^  with  fuch  royal  Bounty,diftributed 
amongft  the  People  on  that  Occafion  (2  Sam,  6. 
18,19.  tf  I  Chron,  16.  2,  3.)  reprefent  fpiritual 
Bleffings,  that  Christ  liberally  fends  down  on 
his  Church,  by  the  Out-pourings  of  his  Spirit, 
See  Pfal,  68.  I535I35 18, 19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24. 
And  we  have  an  Account  how  that  all  the  People, 
from  Shihor  of  Egypf^  even  unto  the  entring  in  of 
Hemath^  gathered  together,  and  appeared  to  join 
and  affift  in  that  great  AfFair  ;  and  that  all  Ifrael 
brought  up  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant  of  the  Lord^zuith 
Shoutings  and  with  found  of  the  Cornet^  and  with 
Trumpets^  and  with  Cymbals^  making  a  Noife  zvith 
Pfalteries  and  Haj'ps^  i  Chron.  13.  2,5.  ^  15.28. 
And  not  only  the  Men,  but  the  Women  of  Ifrael^ 
the  Daughters  of  Zion  appeared  as  publickly  join- 
ing in  the  Praifes  &  Rejoycings  that  were  on  that 
Occafion,  2  Sam,  6.  19.  But  we  read  of  one  of 
David's  Wives,  even  Michal^  Saul's  Daughter, 
whofe  Heart  was  not  engaged  in  the  Affiiir,  and 
did  not  appear  with  others  to  rejoyce  and  Praife 
L  2  God 


i  1 8         ne  Danger  of  Deri  ding.       Pa.IL 

God  on  this  Occafion,  but  kept  away,  and  ftood 
ata  Diftance,  as  difafFefted,  anddifliking  the  Ma- 
magements  ;  fhe  defpifed  and  ridiculed  theTranf- 
ports,  and  extraordinary  Manifeftations  of  Joy 
that  then  were  j  and  the  Curfe  that  fhe  brought 
upon  herfelf  by.it,  was  that,   of  being  barren  to 

the  Day  of  her  Death. Let  this  be  a  Warning 

to'us  :  Let  us  take  Heed,  in  thisDay  of  the  bring- 
ing up  of  the  Ark  of  God,  that  while  we  are  in 
Vifibility  and  Profeffion  the  Spoufe  of  the  fpiritual 
David^  we  don't  fhew  our  felves  to  be  indeed  the 
Children  of  falfe-hearted  and  rebellious  Saul^  by 
our  ftandlng  aloof,  and  not  joining  in  the  Joy  and 
Praifes  of  the  Day,  and  difliking  and  defpifmg  the 
Joys  &  Affections  of  God's  People,  becaufe  they 
are  to  fo  high  a  Degree,  and  fo  bring  the  Curfe  of 
perpetual  Barrennefs  upon  our  Souls. 

Let  us  take  Heed  that  we  ben't  like  the  Son  of 
t,he  Bond- Woman,  that  was  born  after  the Fleih, 
that  perfecutcd  him  that  was  born  after  theSpirit^ 
and  mocked  at  the  Feafting  and  Rejoicings  tliat 
were  made  for  Ifaac  when  he  was  weaned  ;  kit 
we  fhould  be  caft  out  of  the  Family  of  Abraham^ 
as  he  was.  G^w.  21.  8,9.  That  Affair  contained 
fpiritual  Myfteries,and  was  typical  of  Things  that 
come  to  fl\s  in  thefe  Days  of  the  Gofpcl  ;  as  is 
evident  by  the  Apoftles  Teftimony,  GaL  4.  22. 
to  the  End,  And  particularly  it  feems  to  have 
been  typical  of  two  Things,  i.  The  Weaning 
of  the  Church  from  it'sMilk;  of  carnalOrdinances, 
Ceremonies,  Shadou^,  and  beggarly  Elements, 
upon  the  Coming  of  Christ,  and  pouring  out 
of  the  Spirit  in\hfi  Days  of  the  Apoftles.  The 
^  Church 


Part  11.     ^he  Danger  of  Deriding.       1 1 9 

Church  of  Christ,  in  the  Times  of  the  Old- 
Teftament,was  in  it's  Mincrity^and  was  a  Babe  ; 
and  theApoftle  tells  us  that  Babes  muft  be  fed  with 
Milk,  and  not  with  ftrongMeat  ;  but  when  God 
weaned  his£hurch  from  thefe  carnal  Ordinances, 
on  the  ceafmg  of  the  legalDifpenfation,  a  glorious 
Gofpel  Feaft  was  provided  for  Soub,  and  God 
fed  his  People  with  fpiritual  Dainties,  and  fiU'd 
them  with  the  Spirit,  and  gave  'em  Joy  in,  the 
Holy  Ghoft.  Ijlmiael^  in  mocking  at  the  Time 
of  Ifaac^s  Feaft,  by  the  Apoftles  Teftimony,  re- 
prefented  the  carnal  Jeivs^  the  Children  of  the 
literal  Jerufale7n^  who  when  they  beheld  the  Re- 
joicings of  Chriftians,  in  their  fpiritual  and  evan- 
gelical Priviledges, were  filled  withEnvy,  deriding, 
contradicting  and  blafpheming.  A^.  2.  13.  and 
CZ?^/)..  13.  45.  and  18.  6.  And  therefore  were 
caft  out  of  the  Family  of  Ahrahcvny  and  out  of 
the  Land  oiCajiaan^  to  wander  through  the  Earth.. 
2.  This  Weaning  of  iy^/^j's  feemsalfo  to  repre- 
fent  tlie  Converfion  of  Sinners,  which  is  feverd 
Times  reprefented  in  Scripture  by  tr.e  v/eaning 
of  a  Child  ;  as  \n  PfaL  131.  and  Ifui.  28.  9, 
Becaufe  in  Converficn,  the  Soul  is  weaned  from- 
the  Enjoyments  of  the  World,  which  are  as  it 
were,  the  Breaft  of  our  Mother  Earth  ;  and  is  alfi> 
wean'd  from  the  Covenant  ofourfirft  Parents-,. 
which  we  as  naturally  hang  upon,  asa  Child  on 
it's  Mother's  Breafts  :  And  the  great  Feaft  that 
Abrahmn  mzA^  on  that  Occafion,  reprefents  the 
fpiritual  Feaft,  the  heavenly  Priviledges,  and  holy 
Joys  and  Comforts,  which  God  gives  Souls  at 
their  Converfion,     Now  is  a  Time  when  God 

L3 


1 2a         Tlbe  Danger  of'Oppofi'ng.       Pa .  If. 

is  in  a  remarkable  Manner  beftov/ingtheBleflings. 
of  fiich  a  Feaft.  Let  every  one  take  Heed  that 
he  don't  now  fhew  himfelf  to  be  the  Son  of  the 
Bond- Woman,  and  born  after  thcFlefli,  by  fend- 
ing and  deriding,  with  mocking  Iftmiael  \  left 
they  be  caft  (Xit  as  he  wa'^,  and  it  be  feid  concern- 
ing them^  thcfe  Sons  of  the  Bond- Woman,  fhall 
not  be  Heirs  with  the  Sons  of  the  Free- Woman. 
Don't  let  usftiimbleattheThings  that  have  been, 
becaufe  they  are  fo  great  and  extraordinary  ;  for 
if  we  have  run  with  theFoot-Men,  and  they  have 
wearied  us,  hov/  {hall  we  contend  with  Horfcs  ? 
There  is  doubtlefs  a  Time  coming  v/hen  God 
will  accompliih  Things  vallly  greater  and  more 
extraordinary  then,  thefe. 

And  that  we  may  be  w^arned  not  to  continue 
doubting  and  uabelievijig,  concerning  tJiisWork, 
becaufe  of  the  extraordinary  Degree  of  it,  and  the 
Suddennefs  and  Swiftnefs  of  the  Accomplifhment 
of  the  great  Things  that  pertain  to  it.  Let  us 
confider  the  Example  of  the  unbelieving;  Lord  in 
Samaria  ;  who  could  not  believe  fo  extraordinary 
a  Woj-k  of  God  to  be  accomplifhed  fo  fudden ly 
as  was  declared  to  him  :  The  Prophet£7(/2>^  fore-, 
ipid  that  the  great  Famine  in  Samaria  {hould  very 
ilidderJy,  everi  in  ov^^  Day,  be  turned  into  an  ex- 
traordinary Plenty  \  but  the  V/ork  was  too  great, 
and  too  fud4en  for  him  to  believe  \  fays  he,  If 
the  Lord  Jhould  ?nake.  Windows  in  Heaven^  might 
this  Tlnng  he  ?  And  the  Curfe  that  he  brought 
upon  himfelf  by  it,  was  that  he  faw  it  with  his 
Eyes,-  and  did  not  eat  thereof,  but  miferably  pe- 
rifhedj  and  was  trodden  dov/.n  as  the  Mire  of  the 

Streets. 


Pa.  II.       7he  Danger  of  Oppofing.      *  121 

Street?,  when  otherswere  fcafting  and  rejoicing. 
:►   Kings ^   Chap,   7. 

When  God  redeemed  his  People  from  their 
Bahyhnijh  Captivity,  and  they  rebuilt:  Jerztfahm^ 
it  was,  as  is  univerfally  own'd^  a  remarkableTypc 
Dt'  the  fpiritual  Redemption  of  God's  Churchy- 
Mid  particularly,  was  an  eminentType  of  the  great 
Deliverance  of  the  ChriftianChurch  from  fpiritual. 
Babylon^h  their  re-building  the  fpirituaiy^r/^y^z/f;;/, 
in  the  latter  Days  ;  and  therefore  they  arc  often 
fjioken  of  under  one  by  theProphets  :  and  this  pro- 
bably was  the  main  Rcafon  that- it- was  fo  ordered - 
in  Providence,  and  particularlvjioted  inScripture^ 
that  the  Children  of //; W,  on  that  Occafion, kept 
the  greateft  Feaji  ofTahcrjiacks^thd^t  ever  had  been 
krptin  Ifracl^  fmce  the  T>?.ys,  oi  yojhuf^  when 
the  People  were  firft  fetlcd  in  Cmzaan  ;  {Kch,  8. 
16,17.)  becaufe  at  that  Time  happen'd  that  Ref- 
to ration  of  IJrael^  that  had  the  greateit  Refem- 
blance  of  that  great  Reftoration  of  the  Church 
of  Go  D , .  of  which  tr.c  FeaJi,  of  Tabemacks,  v/as  the 
Type,  of  any  that  had  beeniinceyjj/^//^  firfl  bro't 
the  People  out  of  the  Wildernefs,  and  fettled  them 
in  the  good  Land.  But  v/e  read  of  fjme  that  op- 
pofed  the  Jews  in  that  Affair,  and  weakened  their 
Hands,  and  ridiculed  God's  People,  and  the  In- 
ftruments  that  were  improved  in  that  Work,  and. 
defpifed  their  Hope,  and  made  as  tho'  their  Con-- 
fidence  was  little  mprethan  a  Shadow,  and  would, 
utterly  fail  'em  :  JVhat  do-  ihefe  feeble  Jeivs  f 
(fay  they,)  TFill  ikcy  fortify  theinf elves  ?  tVillihey 
facrifice  ?  Will  they  make  an  Eyid  in  a  Day  ? 
JVill  they  revive  the  Stones  out  cf  th^  Heaps  cf  the 

Kubbijh 


:  2  ♦  To  'promote  this  Work  the  IVay    P  a  .  1 1; 

Rubbljh  which  are  burn'' t  ?  Even  that  luhich  they 
build ^  if  a  Fox  go  up^  he  Jhall  even  break  doivn  their 
Stone  Wall,  Let  not  uy.be  in  any  Meafure  like 
ihcmj  left  it  be  faid  to  lis,  as  Nehe?niah  faid  to 
them,  Neh.  2.  20.  JVe  his  Servants  will  arife 
end  build  ;  but  you  have  no  Portion^  nor  Rights  nor 
Memorial  in  Jcrufalcni.  And  Icaft  we  bring  A^^- 
herniaJys  Imprecation  upon  us,  Chap.  4.  5  .  Cover 
7iot  their  Iniquity^  and  let  not  their  Sin  be  blotted  out 
from  before  thee  ^  for  they  have  provoked  thee  to 
Jnger^  before  the  Builders. 

As  Perfons  will  greatly  expofe  themfelves  to  the 
Curie  of  God,  by  oppofing,  or  ftanding  at  aDif- 
tancc,  An6,  keeping  Silence  at  fuch  a  Time  as  this  ; 
fo  for  Perfons  to  arife,  and  readily  to  acknowledge 
God,  and  honour  him  in  fuch  a  Work,  and  chearr 
fully  and  vigoroufly  to  exert  themfelves  to  pro- 
mote it,wiil  be  to  putthemfelves  much  in  the  Way 
of  the  divine  Bleffing.  What  a  Mark  of  Honour 
does  God  put  upon  ihofe  in  Ifraely  that  willingly 
offered  themfelves,  and  came  to  the  Help  of  the 
Lord.againft-  the  Mighty,  when  the  Angel  of  the 
Lord  led  forth  his -Armies,  and  they  fought  from 
Kcaven  againft  Si f era  ?  fi^dg,  5.  2,  9,  14,  15, 
17,18.  And  what  a  great  Eleirmg  is  pronounc'd 
rii  faei^  the  Wife  of  Heber^  t-he  Kenite^  for  hex 
appearing  on  the  Lord's  Side,  and  for  what  fhe 
did  to  promote  this  Work  ?  ^V.  24.  Which 
was  no  lefs  than  theCurfe  pronounced  in  the  pre- 
ceeding  Verfc,  againft  Meroz^  for  lying  ftill  : 
Bleffd  above Wc?ncn,,  J})all}2id^  the  Wfe  of  Hcbc-v^ 
the  Kenite  be^  bleJ/tYlfjallJhe  be  above  Women^  in 
the  Tent,     And  what  a  Blelfing  is  pronounced  on 

thofe 


Pa.  II.  to  a  peculiar  BleJJing.  123 

thofe  which  fhall  have  any  Hand  in  the  Deftruc- 
tion  of  Babylon^  which  was  the  Head  City  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Satan^  and  of  the  Enemies  of  the 
Church  of  God  ?  Pfal.  137.  9,  Happy  Jhall he 
be^  that  taketh^  and  dajheth  thy  little  ones  againji  the 
Stones.  What  a  particular  and  honourable  No- 
tice is  taken,  in  the  Records  of  God's  Word,  of 
thofe  that  arofc,and  appear'd  as  Z>^^/^ J  Helpers, 
to  introduce  him  into  the  Kingdom  of  IfraeU  io 
the  12  Chap,  of  i  Chron.  ^  The  Hoft  of  thofe 
that  thus  came  to  the  Help  of  the  Lord,  in  that 
Work  of  his,  and  glorious  Revolution  in  Ifrael^ 
,by  which  the  Kingdom  of  that  great  Type  of  the 
Mejfiah  was  fet  up  in  Ifrael^  is  compared  to  the 
Hoft  of  God,  Ver.  22.  At  that  Time^  Day  by 
Day^  there  came  to  David,  to  help  him.^  until  it  was 
agreat  Hojl^  Ukey  the  Hoji  of  God.  And  douI>t> 
lefs  it  was  intended  to  be  a  Type  of  that  Hoft  of 
God,  that  (hall  appear  with  the  fpiritual /)^72;/^, 
as  his  Helpers,  when  he  fhall  come  to  fet  up 
his  Kingdom  in  the  World  ;  the  fame  Hoft  that 
we  read  of,  Rev.  19.  14.  The  Spirit  of  God 
then  pronounced  a  fpecial  Bleffing  on  David\ 
Helpers,  as  thofe  that  were  Co-workers  withGod, 
Ver.  18.  Then  the  Spirit  catne  uponAm?i(2ii^who  was 
chief  of  the  Captains^  and  he  faid^  Thine  are  we 
David,  and  on  thy  Side^  thou  Son  of  Jefie  ;  Peace ^ 
Peace  be  unto  thee^  and  Peace  be  to  thine  Helpers^ 
for  thyGod helpeth  thee.  So  we  may  conclude  that 
God  will  much  more  give  his  Bleffing/  to  fiich  as 
come  to  the  Help  of  the  Lord,  when  he  fets  his 
own  dear  Son  as  King  on  his  holy  Hill  of  Zion  ; 
and  they  {hall  be  received  by  Christ,  and  he 

will 


124  Obligation  of  Rulers  Pa. 11. 

will  put  peculiar  Honour  upon  thenijas  David  did 
on  thofe  his  Helpers ;  as  we  have  an  Account,  in 
the  following  Words,  Ver.  i8.  Then  David  re- 
ceived them^  and  made  them  Captains  of  the  Band, 
'Tis  particularly  noted  of  thofe  that  Came  to 
David  to  Hebron^  ready  armed  to  the  War,  to 
turn  the  Kingdom  of  5^a/tohim,  according  to 
the  Word  of  the  Lord,  that  they  were  Men  that 
had  underjlanding  of  the  Times ^  to  know  what  Ifrael 
ought  to  do,  Ver.23.  ^  32-  Herein  they  differed 
from  the  Pharifees  and  other  Jtws^  that  did  not 
come  to  the  Help  of  the  Lord,  at  the  Time  that 
the  great  Son  of  David  appeared  to  fet  up  his 
Kingdom  in  theWorld,  whomCHRisT  condems, 
that  they  had  not  Underjlanding  of  thofe  Times ^ 
Luke  12.56.  Te  Hypocrites^  ye  can  difeern  the  Face 
of  the  Sfy^  and  of  the  Earth  ;  hut  how  is  it^  thai 
ye  do  not  difeern  thefeTimes  ?  So  it  always  will  be, 
when  Christ  remarkably  appears  on  Earth,  on 
a  Defign  of  fetting  up  his  Kingdom  here,  there 
will  be  many  that  will  not  underftand  the  Times, 
nor  what  //rW  ought  to  do,  and  fo  will  not  come 
to. turn  about  the  Kingdom  to  David. 

The  favourable  Notice  that  God  will  take  of 
fuch  as  appear  to  promote  the  Work  of  God,  at 
fueha  Time  as  this,  may  alfo  be  argued  from  fuch 
a  y^xy  particular  Notice  being  taken  in  the  facred 
Records,  of  thofe  that  helped  in  rebuilding  the 
Wall  of  Jerufalem^  upon  the  Return  from  the 
Babylonijh  Captivity.      Nehem,  Chap.  3. 

At  fuch  a  Time  as  this,  when  God  is  fetting 
his  King  on  his  holy  Hill  of  Zion^  or  eftablifliing 
his  Dominion,   or   (hewing  forth  his  regal  Glory 

from 


Pa.  II.  to  promote  this  Work.         125 

'  from  thence,  he  expedls  that  his  vifible  People, 
without  Exception,  (hould  openly  appear  to  ac- 
knowledge him  in  fuch  a  Work,  and  bow  before 
hini,&  join  with  him.  Butefpecially  dccshe  expect 
this  of  civil  Rulers  :  God's  Eye  is  efpccially  upon 
them,  to  fee  how  they  behave  themfelves  on  fuch 
an  Occafion.    If  a  newKing  comes  to  theThrone, 
when  he  comes  from  Abroad,  and  enters  into  his 
Kingdom,  and  makes  his  folemn  Entry  into  the 
royal  City,  it  is  expected  that  all  Sorts  fliould  ac- 
knowledge him  5  but  above  all  others  is  it  expell- 
ed that  the  great  Men,  and  public  Officers  of  the 
Nation  (hould  then  make  their  Appearance,  and 
attend  on  their  Sovereign,  with  fui table  Congra- 
tulations,   and  Manifeftations    of    Refpedl   and 
Loyalty   :    If  fuch  as  thefe  ftand  at  a  Diftance, 
at  fuch  a  Time,  it  wull  be  much  more  taken 
Notice  of,    and  will  awaken   the   Princes  Jea- 
.  loufv  and  Difpleafure  much  more,  than  fuch  a  Be- 
haviour in  the  common  People.      And  thus  it  is, 
when  that  eternal  Son  of  God,   and  Heir  of  the 
World,  by  whom  Kings  reign,  andPrinces  decree 
Juftice,  whom  his  Father  has  appointed  to  beKing 
of  Kings,  comes  as  it  were  from  far,  and   in  the 
fpiritual  Tokens  of  his  Prefence|,  enters   into  the 
royal  City   Zion  \  God   has  his  Eye  at  fuch    a 
Time,  efpecially  upon  thofe  Princes,  Nobles  and 
Judges  of  the  Earth,  fpoken  of  Pro  v.  8.  16.    to 
fee  how  they  behave  themfelves, whether  they  bow 
to  him,   that  he  has  made  the  Head  of  all  Princi- 
pality &  Power.     This  is  evident  by  the  2d.  Pfah 
Ver.  6,  7,  10,  II,  12.     Yet  have  ^I fet  my  Kingj 
upon  my  hdyHill  of  Zion.     I  will  declare  the  De- 
cree 


126  Obligations  of  Rulers      ,    Pa.IL 

cree  ;  the  Lord  hath  f aid  unto  rne^  thou  art  my  Son, 
this  Day  have  I  begotton  thee. — Be  wife  now  there- 
fore^ O  ye  KingSy  he  injlru^ed  ye  "Judges  of  the 
Earth  \  ferve  the  Lord  with  Fear^  and  rejoice  with 
Tre?nhling  ;  kifs  the  Son^  left  he  he  angry y  and  ye 
perijhfrom  the  JVay^when  his  Wrath  is  kindled  but  a 
little.  There  feeins  to  be  in  theWords,  an  Allu-  - 
fion  to  a  new  King's  coming  to  the  Throne,  and 
making  his  folemn  Entry  into  the  royal  City  ;  (as 
Zion  was  the  royal  City  in  Ifrael^)  when  it  is  ex- 
pelled that  all,  efpecially  Men  in  publick  Office 
and  Authority,  ftiould  manifeft  their  Loyalty,  by 
fome  open  and  vifible  Token  of  Refpe£l,  by  the 
Way^  as-  he  paffes  along  ;  and  thofe  that  refufe  or 
negleft  it  are  in  Danger  of  being  immediately 
flruck  downjand  periftiing yr<?;w  theWay^  by  which 
the  King  goes  in  folemn  Proceffion. 

TheDay  whereinGod  does  in  an  eminentMan* 
ner  fend  forth  theRod  of  Christ's  Strength  out 
oi  Zion^  that  he  may  rule  in  the  midft  of  his  Ene- 
mies,theDay  of  hisPower  wherein  hisPeople  fhall 
be  made  willing,  is  alfoj  eminently  a  Day  of  his 
Wrath,  efpecially  to  fuch  Rulers  as  oppofe  him, 
or  won't  bow  to  him  ;  a  Day  wherein  he  fhall 
Jlrike  throughKings^  and  fill  theP  laces  with  the  dead 
Bodies^  and  wound  the  Heads  over  many  Countries. 
Pfal.  no.  And  thus  it  is^  that  when  the  Son  of 
God  girds  his  Sword  upon  his  Thigh ^wiih  his  Glory 
andhisMajeJfy^  and  in  hisMajeJly  rides  profperouJJy^ 
hecaufe  of  Truths  Meeknefs  and  Right eoufuefs^  his 
right  Hand  teaches  him  terrible  Things,  It  was  the 
Princes  of  5«tv^^/;  efpecially,  that  fufFered  Punifli- 
ment,  when  the  Inhabitants  of  that  City  refufed 

to 


Pa.  II.        to  promote  this  Work.         127 

to  come  to  the  Help  of  the  Lord,  when  Gideon  was 
purluing  after  Zcbah  zndZalmtwna  ;  we  read  that 
Gideon  took  the  Elders  o(  the  City,  and  Thorns  of 
the  Wildernefs,  and  Briers,  and  with  them  he 
taught  the  Men  of  Succoth.  'Tis  efpecially  taken 
Notice  of  that  the  Rulers, and  chief  Men  oi  Ifrael^ 
were  called  upon  to  afliil  in  the  Affair  of  bringing 
up  theArkof  God  ;  they  were  chiefly  confulted, 
and  were  principal  in  the  Management  of  the  Af- 
fair. I  Chro.  13.  I.  ^«^  David  confulted  with 
the  Captains  of  Thoufands  and  Hundreds  J  and  with 
tvery  Leader.  And  Chap.  15.  25.  So  David  <^wJ 
the  Elders  of  Kr^L^l^and  the  Captains  over  Thou fayids^ 
went  to  bring  up  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant  of  the  Lord  y 
cut  of  the  Houfe  of  Obed-Edom,  with  Joy.  So 
2  Sam.  6.  I.  And  fo  it  was  when  the  Ark  was 
brought  into  the  Temple,  i  King.  8.  i,  3.  ^ 
2   Chro.    5.  2,  4. 

And  as  Rulers,  by  neglecling  theirDuty  at  fuch 
a  Time, will  efpecially  expofe  themfelves  toGoD^s 
great  Difpleafure,  fo  by  fully  acknowledgingGoD 
m  fuch  aWork,  and  by  chearfully  and  vigoroufly 
exerting  themfelves  to  promote  it,  they  will  efpe- 
cially be  in  the  Way  of  receiving  peculiar  Hon- 
ours and  Rewards  at  God's  Hands.  'Tis  noted 
of  the  Princes  of  Ifraely  that  they  efpecially  ap- 
peared to  honour  God  with  their  princely  Offer- 
ing, onOccafion  of  the  fetting  up  the  Tabernacle 
of  God, in  the  Congregation  of  Ifrael :  (which  I 
have  obferved  already  was  done  at  the  Time  of 
the  Feaft  of  Tabernacles,  and  was  a  Type  of  the 
Tabernacle  of  God's  being  with  Men,  and  his 
dwelling  with  Men  in  the  latter  Days,)  And  with 
M  •  wh^t 


128  Obligotions  of  RuUrs         Pa.  II. 

what  abundant  particularity,  is  it  noted  of  each 
Prince,  how  much  he  ofFere'd  to  God  on  that  Oc- 
cafion,  for  their  everlaftingjlonour,  in  the  7th 
Chap. of  Nmnl  ?  And  fo  with  how  muchFavour 
and  Honour  does  the  Spirit  of  God  take  Notice 
of  thofe  Princes  in  Ifrael^  that  came  to  the  Help 
of  tlieLord,intheWaragainft5//^r^  ?  Judg.5.9. 
My  Heart  is  towards  the  Governours  ^/Ifrael,  that 
offered  themfelves  willingly  among  the  People.  And 
Ver.  14.  Out  ^Machir  came  down  Governpurs, 
Ver.  15.  And  the  Princes  of  lihchzr  zvere  with 
Deborah.  And  in  the  Account  that  we  have  of 
the  re-building  the  Wall  of  Jerufalem^  in  the  3d 
Chap,  of  Nehem.  It  is  particularly  noted,  what 
an  Hand  one  and  another  of  the  Rulers  had  in 
this  Affair  ;  v/e  have  an  Account  that  fuch  a  Part 
of  the  Wall  was  repaired  by  theRuIer  of  the  half  Part 
of  Jeriifakm^  and  fuch  a  Part  by  the  Ruler  of  the 
other  Half  Part  of  Jcrufalem^  and  fuch  a  Part  by 
the  Ruler  of  Part  of  Beth-haccerem^  and  fuch  a 
Part  by  the  Ruler  of  Part  of  Alizpah^  and  fuch  a 
Part  by  the  Ruler  of  the  Half  Part  of  Beth-zur  ; 
and  fuch  aPart  by  theRuler  of  Mizpah^VeT.g^i2^ 
14,15,16,19.  And  there  it  is  particularly  noted 
of  the  Rulers  of  one  of  the  Cities,  that  they  put 
not  their  Necks  to  the  Work  of  the  Ix)rd,  tho' 
the  commonPeople  did  ;  and  they  are  ftigm^ftized 
for  it,  in  the  facred  Records,  to  their  everlafting 
Reproach,  Ver.  5.  And  next  unto  thcm^  theTe- 
koites  repaired  ;  but  their  Nobles  put  not  their  Necks 
to  the  JVcrk  cf  the  Lord.  So  the  Spirit  of  God, 
with  fpecial  Honour,  takes  Notice  of  Princes  and 
Rulers  of  feveral  Tribes,  that  aflifted  in  bringing 
lip  the  Ark^     Pfal  68.  27,  And 


Pa.  II.         to  promote  this  iroiJa^      129 

And  I  humbly  derirc4:hat  it  may  bcconfidered. 
Whether  we  han'tReafon  to  fear  thatGoD  is  pre- 
voiced  with  thisLand^that  no  moreNotice  has  been 
taken  of  this  glorious  Work  of  the  Lord,  that  has 
been  lately  carried  on,  by  the  civil  Authority  ; 
that  there  has  no  more  been  done  by  them,  as  a 
public  Acknowledgment  of  God  in  this  Work, 
and  no  more  Improvement  of  their  Authority  to 
promote  it,  either  by  appointing  a  Day  of  public 
Thankfgiving  to  God,  for  fo  unfpeakable  a 
Mercy,  or  aDay  of  Faftmg  and  Prayer,  to  humble 
ourfelves  before  God,  for  our  paft  Deadnefs  and 
Unprofitablenefs  under  theMeans  of  _Grace,and  ta 
feek  the  Continuance  and  Increafe  of  the  Tokens 
of  his  Prefence  ;  or  fo  much  as  to  enter  upon  any 
public  Confultation,  what  fhould  be  done  to  ad- 
vance the  prefent  Revival  of  Religion,  and  great 
Reformation  that  is  begun  in  tlie  Land,  is  there 
not  Danger  that  fuch  a  Behaviour,  atfuchaTime, 
will  be  interpreted  by  God,  as  a  Denial  of  Chrift  ? 
If  but  a  new  Governour  comes  into  a  Province, 
how  much  is  there  done,  efpecially  by  thofe 
that  are  in  Authority,  to  put  Honour  upon  him, 
toarife,  and  appear  publicly,  and  go  forth  to  meet 
him,  to  addrefs  and  congratulate  him,  and  with 
great  Expence  to  attend  upon  him,  and  aid  him  ? 
If  the  Authority  of  the  Province,  on  fuch  an  Oc- 
carion,{hould  all  fet  ftill,and  fay  &  do  nothing,  and 
take  no  Notice  of  the  Arrival  of  their  new  Go- 
vernour, would  there  not  be  Danger  of  its  being 
interpreted  by  him,  and  his  Prince  that  fen t  him, 
as  a  Denial  of  his  Authority,  or  a  refiifing  to  re- 
ceive him,  and  honour  him  as  thei/  Governour  I 
M  2  ^       And 


1 3  o      ^I^Nlgations  of  Minijlers        P  a  .  11. 

And  fhall  the  Head  of  the  Angels,  and  Lord  of 
the  Univerfe,  come  down  from  Heaven,  in  fo 
wonderful  a  Manner,  into  the  Land,  and  fhall  all 
Ibnd  at  a  Diftance,  and  be  filent  and  unadive  on 
fuch  an  Occafion  ?  I  would  humbly  recommend 
it  taour  Rulers,  to  confider  whether  God  don't 
now  fay  to  them.  Be  wife  now  ye  Rulers^  be  in- 
jhuBedye  Jz^.^/^^J  9^  New-England  ;  Kifs  the  So?i^ 
le/i  he  be  angry  ^  and  ye  perijh  from  the  JVay, 

'Tis  prophefied  Zecb.  12.  8.  That  in  the  glo- 
rious Day  of  the  Chriilian  Church,  the  Houfe  of 
DaviJy  or  the  Rulers  in  God's  Ifrael^  Jhall  be  as 
GOD,  as  the  Angel  of  the  LORD,  before  bis  Peo- 
ple. But  how  can  fuch  Rulers  expect  to  have 
any  Share  in  this  glorious  Promife,  that  don't  fo 
much  as  openly  acknowledge  God  in. the  Work 
of  that  Spirit,  by  wliich  the  Glory  of  that  Day  is 
to  be'  accompliftied  ?  The  Days  are  cg5iniQgi..fe. 
often- fpoken  of,  when  the  Saints  :fh'aH  reigii  pir 
Earth,  and  all  Dominion  and  Authority  fhall  be 
given  into  their  Hands  :  But  if  our  Rulers  wonli 
.  partake  of  this  Honour,  they  ought  at  fuch  a  Day 
«is  this,  to  bring  their  Glory  ^nd  Honour  into  the; 
fpiritual  Jerufaleni,  agreablc  to  Revy.^^./l^*  . ..     : 

But  above. all  others,  is  God's  Eye:i*pon  Miki 
nlllers  of  the  Gofpel,  as  expe6ling  oftbem,  that^ 
they  fhould  arife,  and  ackno.wledgej  and  hohour'. 
him  in  fucl^.a  Work  as  thisi^  and  do  their  utmoft 
to  encourage  and  promote  it:  For  to  promote- 
fuch  a  Work,  is  the  very  Bufinefs  which  they  are 
called  and  devoted  to  i    'tis  the  Office  to  which 
they  are  appointed^  as  Co-workers  with  CJbrifl:, 
and  ^  his  Ambafladors  and  Inflruments,.  to  awa- 
ken 


Pa.  II.         to-promate  this  TvWkag     131 

ken  and  convert  Sinners,  and  eftablifh,  build  up 
and  comfort  Saints  ;  'tis  the  Bufinefs  they  have 
been  folemnly  charged  v^ith,  before  God,  An- 
gels and  Men,  and  that  they  have  given  up  them- 
felves  to,  by  the  moft  facred  Vows,  Thefe 
efpecially,  are  the  Ofncers  of  Christ's  King- 
dom, that  above  all  other  Men  upon  Earth,  do 
reprefent  his  Perfon,  into  whofe  Hands  Christ 
has  committed  the  facred  Oracles,  and  holy  Or- 
dinances, and  all  his  appointed  Means  of  Grace, 
to  be  adminijflred  by  them  ;  they  are  the  Stewards 
of  his  Houfhold,  into  whofe  Hands  he  has  com- 
mitted its  Provifion  ;  the  immortal  Souls  of  Men 
are  committed  to  them,  as  a  Flock  of  Sheep  are 
committed  to  the  Care  of  a  Shepherd,  or  as  a 
Matter  commits  a  Treafure  to  the  Care  of  a  Ser- 
vant, of  which  he  muft  give  an  Account :,  'Tis 
expe£led  of  them,  above  all  others,  ^at  they 
fhould  have  Underftanding  of  the  Times,  and 
know  what  I/ra el  ought  to  do  ;  for  *tis  their  Bu- 
fmefs  to  acquaint  themfelves  with  Things  per- 
taining to  the  Kingdom  of  God,  and  to  teach 
and  enlighten  others  in  Things  of  this.  Nature, 
We  that  are  employed  in  the  facred  Work  of  the 
Gofpel-Miniftry,  are  the  Watchmen  over  tiie 
City,  to  whom  God  ha&  committed  the  Ke}^s  of 
the  Gates  of  Zion;  and  if  when  therightfulKing- 
of  Z/V^  comes,  to  deliver  his  People  from,  the 
Enemy  that  oppofes  them,  we  refufe  ta  open^the 
Gates  to  him,  how  greatly  fhall  we  expofe.cur 
felves  to  his  Wrath  ?  We  are  appointed  tO:  be 
the  Captains  of  the  Hoft  in.  this  War  :  And"  if^  a- 
General  will  highly  refent  it  in  a  private  Soldierj.. 
M  ^.  if 


iji     ^Obligations  of  Minijters       Pa.  IL 

If  he  refufes  to  follow  him  when  his  Banner  i> 
eifplay'd,  and  his  Trumpet  blown  ^  how  much 
more  will  he  refent  it  in  the  Officers  of  his  Army  r 
The  Work  of  the  Gofpel-Miniflry,  confifting  in 
the  Admmiftration  of  God's  Word  and  Ordi- 
nances, IS  the  principal  Means  tliat  God  has  ap.- 
pointed,  for  carrying  on  his  Work  on  the  Souls  of 
Men  ;  and  'tis  his  revealed  Will,  that  when  ever 
that  glorious  Revival  of  Religion,  and  Reforma- 
tion of  the  World,  fo  often  fpoken  of  in  his 
Word,  is  accomplilhed,  it  fhould  be  principally 
by  the  Labours  of  his  Minrfters  ;  and  therefore 
how  heinous  will  it  be  in  the  Sight  of  God,  if 
when  a  Work  of  that  Nature  is  begun,  we  ap- 
pear unbelieving,  flow,  backward  and  difaffe£led  ? 
There  was  no  fort  of  Perfons  among  the  Jews 
that  was  in  any  Meafure  treated  with  foch  Mani- 
feilations  of  God's  great  Difpleafure,  and  fevere 
Indignation,  for  not  acknowledging  Christ, 
and  the  ^Vork  of  his  Spirit,  in  the  Days  of  Chrifl 
and  his  Apoffles,  as  the  Minifters  of  Religion  : 
See  how  Christ  deals  with  them  for  it,  in  the 
23d  Chapter  oi  Matthnu  ;  with  what  Gentleneis 
did  Chr'is  T  treat  Publicans  and  Harlots,  in  Com- 
parifon  of  them  ? 

When  the  Tabernacle  was  erected  in  the  Camp 
of  Ifrael,  and  GOD  came  down  from  Heaven  to 
dwell  in  it,  the  Priefts  were  above  all  others  con- 
cerned, and  bufdy  employed  in  the  folernn  Tranf- 
r.aions  of  that  Occafion,  Levit,  Chap.  8.  and  g. 
And  fo  it  was  at  the  Time  of  the  Dedication  of 
the  Temple  of  Solo7ncn,  i  King.  Chap.  8.  and 
-!,  Chrcn,  Chap.  c.  and  6.  and  7.  v^hich  was  at 
:.  the 


Pa  .  If .         to  promote  this  TrotkiuM      1 3  j 

the  Time  of  the  Feaft  of  Tabernacles,  at  the  fame 
Time  that  the  Tabernacle  was  erected  in  the  Wil- 
dernefs  :  And  the  Levites  were  primarily,  and 
moft  immediately  concerned  in  bringing  up  the 
Ark  into  Mount  Zion  i  the  Bufmefs  properly  be- 
longed to  them,  and  the  Ark  was  carried  upon 
thefr  Shoulders,  i  Chron.  15.  2.  Then  David 
Ja'id^  None  Gu^ht  to  carry  the  Ark  of  GOD  but  the 
Levites  ;  for  them  hath  the  LORD  chofen  to  carry 
the  Ark  of  GOD  ^  and  to  min'ijier  unto  hhn  forever. 
And  V,  II,  12.  And  David  called  for  Zadok  and 
Abiathar  the  Priejis^  and  for  the  Levites, /^r  Uriel, 
Afaiah,  and  Joel,  Shemaiah,  and  Eliel,  and  Ami- 
nadab,  mid  fatd  unto  them^  Ye  are  the  chief 
of  the  Fathers  of  the  Levites  ;  fanSflfy  your 
felves^  Both  y^,  and  your  Brethren^  that  you  may 
bring  up  the  Ark  of  the  Lord  God  ^Ifrael,  unto  the 
Place  that  I  have  prepared  fcr  it.  So  we  have  an 
Account  that  the  Pricfts  led  the  Way,  in  re- 
building the  Wall  of  Jerujalem^  after  the  Babylo-* 
nijl?  Captivity,  Neh.  3.  at  the  beginning. 

If  Minifters  preach  never  fo  good  Do£lrine, 
and  are  never  fb  painful  and  laborious  in  their 
Work,  yet,  if  at  fuch  a  Day  as  this,  they  fhew  to 
their  People,  that  they  are  not  well  affcfted  to 
this  Work,  but  are  very  doubtful  and  fufpicious 
of  it,  they  wrll  be  very  likely  to  do  their  People 
a  great  deal  more  Hurt  than  Good  :  For  the  very 
Fame  of  fuch  a  great  and  extraordinary  Work  of 
GOD,  if  their  People  were  fufFered  to-  believe  ft 
to  be  his  Work,  and  the  Example  of  other  Towns, 
together  with  what  Preaching  they  might  hear 
Qj;cafigiially,  wc>uld  be  likely  tQ  have  a  much  grea- 
ter 


1 3  4         OUigatlons  of  Minijlers        Pa  .  II. 

ter  Influence  upon  the  Minds  of  their  People,  to 
awaken  them  and  apimate  them  in  Religion,  than 
all  their  Labours  with  them  :  And  befides  their 
Minifters  Opinion  won't  only  beget  in  them  a 
Sufpicion  of  the  Work  thev  hear  of  abroad,  where- 
by the  mighty  Hand  of  GOD  that  appears  in  it, 
lofes  its  Influence  upon  their  Minds,  but  it  will 
alfo  tend  to  create  a  Sufpicion  of  every  Thing  of 
the  like  Nature,""  that  fhall  appear  among  them- 
felves,  as  being  fomething  of  the  fame  Diflemper 
that  IS  become  fo  Epidemical  in  the  Land  ;  and 
that  is,  in  EfFedi:,  to  create  a  Sufpicion  of  all  vital 
Religion,  and  to  put  the  People  upon  talking 
againfl:  it,  and  dlfcouraging  it,  where-ever  it  np* 
pears,  and  knocking  it  in  the  Head,  as  faft  as  it 
rifes.  And  we  that  are  Miniflers,  by  looking  on 
this  Work,  from  Year  to  Year,  with  a  difplealed 
Countenance,  fhaH  efFeftually  keep  the  Sheep 
from  their  Pafture,  inflead  of  doing  the  Part  of 
Shepherds  to  them,  by  feeding  them  \  and  our 
People  had  a  great  deal  better  be  without  any  fet- 
tled Minifter  at  all,  at  fuch  a  Day  as  this. 

We  that  are  in  this  facred  Office,  had  Need  to 
take  Heed  what  we  do,  and  how  we  behave  our 
fehes  at  tl:iis.  Time  :  A  lefs  Thing  in  a  Minifter 
will  hinder  the  Work  of  GOD,  than  in  others. 
If  we  are  very  fdent,  or  fay  but  little  about  the 
Work,  in  our  publick  Prayers  and  Preaching,  or 
feem  carefully  to  avoid  fpeaking  of  it  in  our  Con- 
verfation,  it  will,  and  juftly  may  be  interpreted 
by  our  People,  that  we  who  are  their  Guides,  to 
whom  they  are  to  have  their  Eye  for  fpiritual 
Inftrudion,  are  fufpicious  of  it  3    and  this  will 

tend 


Pa.  II.         to  promote  this  JVof^^F      135 

tend  to  raife  the  fame  Sufpicions  in  them  ;  and  fo 
the  fore-mentioned  Confequences  will  foHow. 
And  if  we  really  hinder,  and  ftand  in  the  Way  of 
the  Work  of  GOD,  whofe  Bufmefs  above  all 
others  it  is  to  promote  it,  how  can  we  expeiSl  to 
partake  of  the  glorious  Benefits  of  it  ?  And  by 
keeping  others  from  the  Benefit  of  it,  we  fhali 
keep  them  out  of  Heaven  ;  therefore  thofe  awful 
Words  of  Christ  to  the  Jewljh  Fathers,  fhould 
be  confidered  by  us,  Matth.  23.  13.  Wo  unto^ 
you  ^  for  you  Jhut_^  up  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven ;  —-for 
ye  neither  go  tn  your  f elves y  neither  fuff'er  ye  them 
that  are  entring^  to  go  in.  If  we  keep  the  Sheep, 
from  thdr  Pafture,  how  {hall  we  anfwer  it  to  the 
great  Shepherd,  that  has  bought  the  Flock  with 
his  precious  Bloody  and  has  committed  the  Care 
of  tbemltQus  ?  I  would  humbly  defire  of  every 
Minifter'  that  h^  thus  long  remain'd  difafFeited 
to  thi$  Work,  and  has  had  contemptible  Thoughts 
of  it,  to.  icpnfider  whether  he  has  not  hitherto  been 
like  Michul^  without  any  Child,  or'  af  leaft  in  a 
gi:eit  Meafure  barren  and  unfuccefeful  in  his 
Work  :  I  piTay  God  it  may  not  be  a  perpetual 
B&r^ennefs  ?ls  her*s  wter  /.  : 
,  TbfeiTIimes  of  C«ki5T*s  remarkably  appear- 
ihg,'  in  Behalf  of  his  Church,  and  to  revive  Reli- 
gion, and  advance  his  Kingdom-  in  the  World, 
are  often  fpoken  in  the  Prophecies  of  Scripture, 
as  Times  wherein  he  will  remarkably  execute 
Judgments  .on  fuch  Minifters  or  Shepherds,  as 
don't.fced  the  Hock,  but  hinder  their  being  fed, 
andib  deliver  Ms  Flock  from  them,  as  fer,  23. 
throughout^    and    E%€k\    34.    throughout,    and 

'  Zech. 


^^^/?PV7/; 


1 3 5      ^^Wgalions  of  Minijlers        Pa  .  II. 

Zech.  10.  3.  and  Ifai,  56.  7,  8,  9,  C5c.  lob- 
fenced  before  that  Christ's  folemn,  magnificent 
Entry  into  Jerufakm^  feeins  to  be  defigned,  as  a 
Reprefentation  of  his  glorious  coming  into  his- 
ChArch,  the  fpiritual  Jerufalf?n  ;  and"^ therefore 
'tis  worthy  to  be  noted,  to  our  prefent  Purpofe, 
that  Christ  at  that  Time,  caft  out  all  them 
that  fold  and  bought  in  the  Temple, '  and  over- 
threw the  Tables  of  the  Money-Changers,  and 
t!ie  Seats  of  them  that  fold  Doves  y  fignifying 
that  when  he  fhould  come  to  fet  up  his  Kingdom 
on  Earth,  he  would  caft  out  thofe  out  of  his 
Houfe,  who,  inftead  of  being  faithful  Minifters, 
officiated  there  only  for  worldly  Gain  :  Not  that 
I  determine  that  all  Minifters  that  are  fufpicious 
of  this  Work,  do  fo  ;  but  I  mention  thefe  Things 
to  fhew  that  it  is  to  be  expefted,  that  a  Time  of 
a  glorious  Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  to 
revive  Religion,  will  be  a  Time  of  remarkable 
Judgments  on  thofe  Minifters  that  don't  ferve  thc- 
End  of  their  Miniftry.  -- a-i^^  •    •  ■ 

The  Example  of  the  unbelieving  Lord  in  Sa- 
Tnaria^  fhould  efpecially  be  for  the  Waning  of 
Minifters  and  Rulers  :  At  the  Time  when  God 
turned  an  extreme  Famine  into  a  great' Plant)', 
by  a  wonderful  Work  of  his,  the  King  appointed 
this  Lord  to  have  the  Charge'  of  the  Gate  of  the 
City  ;  where  he  faw  the  common  People,  in 
Multitudes,  entring  with  great  Joy  and  Gladnefs, 
loaden  with  Provifion,  to  feed  and  feaft  their  al- 
moft  famiftied  Bodies  ;  but  he  himfelf,  tho'  he 
faw  it  with  his  Eyes,  never  had  one  Tafte  of  it, 
but  being  weak  with  Famine,  funk  down  in  the 

Crowd, 


P  A .  II.         to  promote  this  IFork.  1 3  7 

Crowd,  and  was  trodden  to  Death,  as  a  Puniih- 
ment  of  God,  for  his  not  giving  Credit  to  that 
great  and  wonderful  Work  of  God,  when  fuffi- 
ciently  manifefted  to  him,  to  require  his  Belief.--- 
Minirters  are  thofe,  that  the  King  of  the  Church 
has  appointed  to  have  the  Charge  of  the  Gate,  at 
which. his  People  enterinto  the  Kingdom  of  Hea- 
ven, there  to  be  entertain'd  and  fatisfy'd  with  an 
eternal  Feaft  ;  Minifters  have  the  Charge  of  the 
Houfe  of  God,  which  is  the  Gate  of  Heaven. 

Minifters  fhould  efpecially  take  Heed  of  a  Spi- 
rit of  Envy  towards  other  Minifters,  that  God 
is  pleafed  to  make  more  Ufe  of  to  carry  on  this 
Work,  than  they  ;  and  that  they  don't,  from  fuch 
a  Spirit,  reproach  fome  Preachers,  that  have  the 
true  Spirit,  as  tho'  they  were  influenced  by  a  falfe 
Spirit,  or  were  bereft  of  Reafon,  and  were  mad, 
and  were  proud,  falfe  Pretenders,  and  deferved  to 
be  put  in  Prifon  or  the  Stocks,  as  Difturbers  of 

,  the  Peace  ;  left  they  expofe  themfelves  to 
the  Curfe  of  Shemaiah^  the  Nehelamite^  w^ho 
envied  the  Prophet  Jeremiah^  and  in  this  Manner 
reviled  him,  in  his  Letter  to  Zephaniah  the  Prieft, 
Jer,  29.  26,  27.   TI?e  Lord  hath  made  thee  Prieji^ 

An  the  Stead  of  ^€^6\2A2i  the  PrieJ}^  that  ye  fhould 
be  Officers  in  the  Houfe  of  the  LORD^  for  every 

/Afan  that  is  mad,  and  maketh  himfef  a  Prophet^ 
that  thou-  f})0uldji  put  him  in  Prifon,  and  in  the 
Stocks,  Now  therefore,  TVhy  haji  thou  not  reprQ- 
ved  ]txtm\2i\\  ^Anathoth,  which  maketh  himfelfa 
Prophet  to  you  ?  His  Curfe  is  denounced  in  the 
2d  V.  Thenefore,  thus  faith  the  LORD^  Behold, 
wUl  punijb  Shemaiah  the  Nehelamite,  a^id  his 

Seed  ^ 


? 


138  Obligations  of  Minijlers     ,  Pa.  11. 

Seed ;  He  J]jall  not  have  a  Man  to  dwell  among 
his  People^  neither  jhall  he  behold  the  Good  that  I 
will  do  for  my  People^  faith  the  LORD^  becaufe 
he  hath  taught  Rebellion  againji  the  LORD.  All 
thofe  that  are  others  Superiors  or  Elders,  fhould 
take  Heed,  that  at  this  Day  they  ben'^t  like  the 
elder  Brother,  who  could  not  bear  it,  that  the 
Prodigal  fhould  be  made  fo  much  of,  and  fhould 
be  fo  fumptuoufly  entertained,  and  would  not 
join  in  the  Joy  of  the  Feafl ;  was  like  Michal^ 
Saul's  Daughter,  offended  at  the  Mufick  and 
Dancing  that  he  heard  ;  the  Tranfports  of  Joy 
difpleafed  him  ;  it  feem'd  to  him  to  be  an  mr- 
feemly  and  unfeafonableNoifeand  Ado,  that  was 
made  ;  and  therefore  flood  at  a  Diflance,  fullen, 
and  much  offended,  and  full  of  In veftives  againfl 
the  young  Prodigal. 

'Tis  our  wifeft  and  beft  Way,  fully,  and  with- 
out Reluctance,  to  bow  to  the  great  God  in  this 
Work,  and  to  be  entirely  refignM  to  him,  with 
Refpedl  to  the  Manner  in  which  he  carries  it  on, 
and  the  Inftruments  he  is  pleafed  to  make  Ufe  of^ 
and  not  to  fhew  our  felves  out  of  Humour,  and 
fullenly  to  refufe  to  acknowledge  the  Work,  in 
the  full  Glory  of  it,  becaufe  we  han't  had  fo  great 
a  Hand  in  promoting  it,  or  han't  fhared  fo  largely 
in  the  Blellings  of  it,  as  fome  others ;  and  not  to 
refufe  to  give  all  that  Honour,  that  belongs  to 
others,  as  Inflruments,  becaufe  they  are  young, 
or  are  upon  other  Accounts,  much  inferiour  to 
our  felves,  and  many  others,  and  may  appear  to 
us  very  unworthy,  that  Gop  fhould  put  fo  much 
Honour  upon  them.     When  God  cpmes.  to  ac- 

comphfh 


R  II.    of  bowinl  to  God  in  this  Work.     139 

complifh  any  great  Work  for  his  Church,  and  for 
the  Advancement  of  the  Kingdom  of  his  Son,  he 
always  fulfills  that  Scripture,  Ifai.  2.17.  And  the 
Lofttnefs  of  Man  fhall  he  bozued  doiun^  and  the 
Haughtlnefs  of  Men  Jhallhe  made  low^  and  the  Lord 
alone  Jhall  be' exalted  in  that  Day,  If  God  has  a 
Defign  of  carrying  on  thisWork,  every  one,  whe- 
ther he  be  great  or  fmall,  muft  either  bow  to  it, 
or  be  broken  before  it  :  It  may  be  expedled  that 
GoD'sHand  will  be  upon  every  Thing  that;ishigh, 
and  ftifF,  and  ftrong  m  Oppofition,  as  in  Ifai.  2. 
12,13,14,15.  FortheDay  of  thcLord of  Rofis^fnall 
be  upon  every  dne  that  is  proud  l^ lofty ^and  upon  roery 
one  that  is  lifted  upland  he  Jhall  be  brought  low  ;  and 
upon  all  the  Cedars  /?/Lebanon,  that  are  high  and 
lifted  up^  and  upon  all  the  Oaks  (j/'Bafhan,  and  upon 
all  the  high  Mountains^  and  upon  all  the  Hills  that 
are-lifted  up ^  and  upon  e^ery  high  Tower ^  and  upon 
every  feficed  Wall, 

Not  only  Magiftrates  and  Minifters,  but  every 
living  Soul,  is  now  obliged  to  arife,  and  acknow- 
ledge God  in  thisWork,  and  put  to  his  Hand  to 
promote  it,  as  they  would  not  expofe  themfelves 
to  God's  Curfe.  All  Sorts  of  Perfons,  through- 
out the  whole  Congregation  of  Ifrael^  Great  and 
Small,  Rich  and  Poor,  Men  and  Women,  helped 
to  build  the  Tabernacle  in  the  Wildernefs  ;  fome 
in  one  W  ay,  others  in  another  ;  each  one  accord- 
ing to  his  Capacity  :  Every  one  whofe  Heart 
ftirred  him  up,  and  every  one  whom  his  Spirit 
made  willing  ;  all  Sorts  contributed,  and  all  Sorts 
were  employed  in  that  AfFair,  in  Labours  of  their 
Hands,  both  Men  and^  Women  :   Some  brought 

N  c;oii 


I40  All  Sorts  are  ohiigtd  Pa.IL 

Gold  and  Silver,  others  Blue,  Purple  and  Scarlet, 
and  fine  Linnen  ;  others  oftered  an  Offering  of 
Brafs  \  othersjwith  whom  was  foundShittimWood, 
brought  it  an  Offering  to  the  I.ord  :  The  Rulers 
brought  Onyx  Stones,  and  Spice^  and  Oyl ;  and 
fome  brought  Goats  Hair  \  and  fomc  Rams  Skins, 
and  others  Badgers  Skins.  See  Exod. 35^20,  &:c. 
And  we  are  told  Ver.  29.  The  Children  cf  Ilrael 
hrought  a  willing  Offeriyjg  unto  the  Lord^  every  Man 
and  Woman ^  whofe  Heart  made  them  willing.  And 
thus  it  ought  to  be  in  this  Day  of  building  the 
Tabernacle  of  God  ;  with  fuch  a  willing  and 
L.  cheerful  Heart,  ought  every  Man,  Woman,  and 
Child,  to  do  fomething  to  promote  this  Work  : 
Thofe  that  have  not  Onyx  Stones,  or  are  not  able 
to  bring  Gold  or  Silver,  yet  may  bring  Goats 
Hair. 

As  all  Sorts  of  Perfons  were  employed  in  build- 
ing the  Tabernacle  in  the  Wild  ernefs,fo  the  whole 
Congmgtt^ion  of  Ifrael  were  called  together  to  fet 
up  the  Tabernable  in  Shiloh^  after  they  came  into 
Canaa7i^  Jofh.  18.  I.  And  fo  again,  the  whole 
Congregation  of  Ifrael  were  gathered  together, 
to  bring  up  the  Ark  oi'GoD ^from Kirjath-jeari?n  ^ 
and  again,  they  were  all  aflembled  to  bring  it  upj 
out  of  the  Houfe  of  Ohed-Edom  into  Mowit  Zion  \ 
•b  again,  all  Ifrael  met  together  to  affift  in  the 
great  Affair  of  the  Dedication  of  the  Templ^^and 
bringing  the  Ark  into  it  :  So  v/e  have  an  Account, 
how  tliat  all  Sorts  affifled  in  the  Re-building  the 
Wall  of  Jerufalem^  not  only  the  propp  Inhar  > 
tants  of  Jerufalemy  but  thofe  that  dwelt  in  oth-i 
Parts  of  the  Land  j  not  only  the  Priefts  &RuIers. 


Pa.  II.         to  promote  this  Work.         141 

but  the  Nethmims  a^d  Merchants,   Hufbtndmen 
and   jVIechanicks,   andWor^ien.   Neh, '^,   5,12, 
265  3 1 ,32.     And  we  have  an  Account  of  one  and 
another,   that  he  repaired  over  againfl  his  Houfe, 
VcT.  10.  &  23,  28.  and  of  one  that  repaired  over 
againft  his  Chamber,   Ver,  30.     So  now,    at  this 
Time  of  the  Re-building  the  Walls  of  Jerufale?ny 
every  one  ought  to  promote  the  Work  of  God 
within  his  own  Sphere,  and  by  doing  what  be- 
longs to  him,  in  the  Place  in  w^hich  God  has  fet 
him  :  Men  in  a  privateCapacity,  may  repair  over 
againfl  their  Houfes   :  and  even  thofe  that  have 
not  the  Government  of  Families,    and  have  but 
Part  of  an  Houfe  belonging  to  them,   fhould  re- 
pair,  each  one  over  againft  his  Chamber  :    And 
every  one  fliould  be  engaged  to  do  the  utmoft 
that  lies  in  his  Power,  laKouriflfg  with  the  utmoft 
Watchfulnefs,  Care  and  Diligence,  with  united 
Hearts,    and  united  Strength,   and  the  greateft 
Readinefs,  to  affift  one  another  in  this  Work  :  as 
God's  People  re-built  the  Wall  of   Jerufahm  y 
who  were  fo  diligent  in  theWork,that  they  wro't 
from  break  of  Day,  'till  die  Stars  appeared,  and 
d[d  not  fo  much  as  put  off  their  Cloaths  in  the 
Night  ;    and  wrought  witli  that  Care  &  Watch- 
fulnefs,^  that  with  one  Hand  they  wrought  in  the 
Work,  and  with  the  other  Handlield  aWeapon  i 
hefides  the  Guard  they  fet  to  defend  them  ;   and 
were  fo  well  united  in  it,  that  thev  took  Care, 
that  one  fliould  ftand  ready,  with  a  Trumpet  ia    \ 
ills  Hand,  that  if  any  v/ere  aflaulted  i^i  on^  Part^    i 
,tiiofe  m  the  other  Parts,  at  the  found  of  theTrum- 
pet,mightrefort  to  'em,&  help  'em,  W^A.atthe 
latter  End.  N^        ^  Gi^^ 


1 


\\i  Authors Jhoiild promote  thisWork.  R  II. 

GreatCare  fhould  be  taken  tliat  thePrefs  fliould 
be  improved  to  no  Purpofe  contrary  to  thelntereft 
of  this  Work.  We  read  that  when  God  fought 
airainft  Sifera^  for  theDeliverance  of  his  oppreffed 
Church,  They  that  handle  thePen  oftheWrtter  came 
to  the  Help  of  the  Lord  in  that  Mi7i\x^Jud,<^.\\. 
Whatever  Sort  of  Men  in  Ifrael  they  were  that 
were  intended,  yet  as  the  Words  were  Indited  by 
a  Spirit,  that  had  a  perfect  View  of  all  Events  to 
the  End  of  the  World,  and  had  a  fpecial  Eye  on 
this  Song,  to  that  great  Event  of  the  Deliverance 
of  God's  Church,  in  the  latter  Days,  of  which 
'  this  Deliverance  of  Ifrael  was  a  Type,  'tis  not 
unlikely  that  they  have  Refpeft  to  Authors,  thofe 
that  fhould  fight  againft  the  Kingdom  of  Saiariy 
with  their  Pens,^,  Thofe  therefore  that  publifh 
Pamphlets,  to  the  Di  fad  vantage  of  this  Work, 
and  tending  either  directly  or  indirectly  to  bring 
it  under  Suf^>ition,  and  to  difcourage  or  hinder 
it,  would  do  well  thoroughly  to  confider  whe- 
ther this  be  nQt  indeed  the  Work  of  God  ^  and 
whether  if  it  be,  ^tis  not  likely  that  God  W'ill  go 
forth  as  Fire,  to  confume  all  that  ftands  in  his 
Way,  and  fo  burn  up  thofe  Pamphlets  ;  and  whe- 
ther there  be  not  Danger  that  the  Fire  that  is 
kindled  in  there,  will  fcorch  the  Authors; 

When  a  People  oppofe  Christ  in  the  Work 
of  his  Holy  Spirit,  it  is  becaufe  it  touches  'em, 
in  fomething  that  is  dear  to  their  carnalMindsj  and 
becaufe  they  lee  the  Tendency  of  it  is  to  crofs 
their  Pride,  and  deprive  them  of  the  Objects  of 
their  Lulls.  We  fhould  take  Heed  that  at  this 
Day  we  be  not  like  the  Gadarenes^  who  when 

Christ 


Part  II.  "      Who  are  Oppofers.  143   ^ 

Christ  came  into  their  Country,  in  the  Exer- 
cife  of  his  glorious  Power  and  Grace,triumphing 
over  a  Legion  of  Devik,  and  delivering  a  mife- 
jable  Creature,  that  had  long  been  their  Captive, 
were  all  alarmed,  becaufc  they  loft  their  Swine  by 
it,  and  the  whole  Multitude  of  theCountry  came, 
and  befought  him  to  depart  outof  theirCoafts :  they 
loved  their  filthy  Swine,  better  than  JefusChrift  j. 
and  liad  rather  have  a  Legion  of  Devils  in  their 
Country,  with  their  Herd  of  Swine,  than  Jesus 
Christ  without  them. 

This  Work  may  be  oppofed,  not  only  by  di- 
reftly  fpeaking  againft  the  whole  of  it :  Perfons 
may  fay  that  they  believe  there  is  a  good  Work 
carried  on  the  Country  ;  and  may  fometimes  blef^ 
God,  in  their  publiek  Prayers,  in  generalTerms, 
for  any  Awakenings  or  Revivals  of  Religion, there 
have  lately  been  in  any  Parts  of  the  Land  j  and 
may  pray  that  God  would  carry  on  his  own 
Work,  and  pour  out  his  Spirit  more< and  more  j 
and  yet,  as  I  apprehend,  be  in  the  Sight  of  God, 
great  Oppofers  of  his  Work  :  Some  will  expreft 
themfelves  after  this  Manner,  that  are  fo  far  from- . 
acknowledging  &  rejoycing  in  the  infinite  Mercy, 
and  glorious  Grace  of  God,  in  caufing  fo  hapf^ 
a  Change  in  the  Land,  that  they  look  "upon  the 
religious  State  of  the  Country,  take  it  in  the 
Whole  of  it,  much  more  forrowful  than  it  was 
ten  Years  ago  ;  and  whofe  Ccnverfation,  to  thofe 
that  are  well  acquainted  with  'em,  evidently 
fhews,  that  they  are  more  out  of  Humour  with 
the  State  of  Things,  and  enjoy  themfelves  leis, 
than  they  did  befgre  ever  this  Work  began^. 
N  3  If 


144      Of  inftjling  on  Imprudences,      Pa. II. 

If  it  be  manifeftly  thus  with  us,  and  our  Talk 
and  Behaviour  with  Refpeft  to  this  Work,  be 
fuch  as  has,  (tho'  but)  an  indireft  Tendency,  to 
beget  ill  Thoughts  and  Sufpicions  in  others  con- 
cerning it,  we  are  Oppofers  of  the  Work  of  God. 
Inftead  of  coming  to  the  Help  of  the  Lord,  we 
fhall  aftually  fight  againft  him,  if  we  are  abundant 
in  infifting  on,  and  fetting  forth  the  Blemiihes  of 
the  Work,  fo  as  to  manifeft  that  we  rather  choofe, 
and  are  more  forward  to  take  Notice  of  what  is 
amifs,tlian  what  is  good  and  glorious  in  the  Work. . 
Not  but  that  theErrors  that  are  committed, ought 
to  be  obferved  and  lamented,  and  a  proper  Tefti- 
mony  born  againft  them,  and  the  moft  probable 
Means  (hould  be  ufed  to  have  'em  amended  ^  but 
an  infifting  much  upon  'em,  as  tho'  it  were  a  plea- 
fmgTheme,or  fpeaking  of  them  with  more  Appear- 
ance of  Heat  of  Spirit,  or  with  Ridicule,  or  an  Air 
of  Contempt,  than  Grief  for  them,  has  no  Ten- 
dency to  correft  the  Errors  ;  but  has  a  Tendency 
to  darken  the  Glory  of  God's  Power  and  Grace, 
appearing  in  the  Subftance  of  the  Work,  and  to 
beget  Jealoufies  and  ill  Thoughts  in  the  Minds  of 
others,  concerning  the  whole  of  it.  Whatever 
Errors  many  zealous  Perfons  have  ran  into,  yet  if 
the  Work,  in  the  Subftance  of  it,  be  the  Work 
of  God,  then  it  is  a  joyful  Day  indeed  ;  'tis  fo 
in  Heaven,  and  ought  to  be  fb,  among  God's 
People  on  Earth,  efpecially  in  that  Part  of  the 
Earth,  where  this  glorious  Work  is  carried  on. 
^Tis  a  Day  of  great  Rejoicing  with  Chrift  himfelf, 
'  the  good  Shepherd,  when  he  finds  his  Sheep  that 
I  was  loft,  lays  it  w  his  Shoulders  rejoicing,  ami; 


1 


Pa.  II.      Of  inftfiing  on  Imprudences.      145 

calls  together  his  Friends  and  Neighbours,  faying 
rejoyce  with  me  :  If  we  therefore  are  Christ's 
Friends,  now  it  fhould  be  a  Day  of  great  Rejoi- 
cing with  us.  If  we  view'd  Things  in  a  juft 
Light,  fo  great  an  Event  as  the  Converfion  of  fuch 
a  Multitude  of  Sinners,  would  draw  and  engage 
our  Attention,  much  rr^ore  than  all  die  Impruden- 
ces and  Irregularities  that  have  been  ;  our  Hearts 
would  be  fwallowed  up  with  the  Glory  of  this 
Event,  and  we  fliould  have  no  great  Difpofition  to 
attend  to  any  Thing  elfe.  The  Imprudences  and 
Errors  of  poor  feeble  Worms,  don't  hinder  or  pre- 
vent great  Rejoicing,  in  the  Prefence  of  the  An- 
gels of  God,  over  fo  many  poor  Sinners  that  have 
repented  ;  and  it  will  be  an  Argument  of  fome- 
thing  very  ill  in  us,  if  they  prevent  our  Rejoicing. 
Who  loves  in  aDay  of  great  Joy  &  Gladnefs,to 
be  much  infilling  on  thofe  Things  that  are  uncom- 
fortable ?  Would  it  not  be  very  improper,  on  a 
King's  Coronation  Day,  to  be  much  in  taking  No- 
tice of  the  Blemifhes  of  the  Royal  Family  ?  Or 
would  it  be  agreeable  to  theBridegroom,on  theDay 
of  his  Efpoufals,  the  Day  of  the  Gladnefs  of  his 
Heart,  to  be  much  infilling  on  the  Blemilhes  of  his 
Bride  ?  We  have  an  Account,  how  that  at  the 
Time  of  that  joyful  Difpenfation  of  Providence, 
the  Reftoration  of  the  Church  of  Ifrael,  after  the 
Babylonijh  Captivity,  and  at  the  Time  of  the  Feaft 
of  Tabernacles,  many  wept  at  the  Faults  that  were 
found  amongft  the  People,  but  were  reproved  for 
tafang  fo  much  Notice  of  the  Blemifhea  of  that 
Affair,  as  to  overlook  the  Caufe  of  Rejoicing. 

-^i*•  8.^9, 10,  II,  \%y  ^/wfNehemiab,  which  is 

the 


146  'Danger  of  not  promoting  this  JVork.  P.  II. 

the  Tirfhatha,  andEzvTi  the  Prieji,  the  Scribe,  and 

the  Levites,  that  taught  the  People,  faid  unto  all  the 

People,  This  Day  is  holy  unto  the  Lord  your  GOD, 

mourn  not  nor  weep  ;  for  all  the  People  wept,  when 

they  heard  the  Words  of  the  Law.    Then  he  faid  ujito 

them.  Go  your  Way,  eat  the  Fat,  and  drink  the  Sweet, 

and fmd  Part  ions  unto  them,  for  whom  nothing  is  pre* 

pared  ;  for  this  Day  is  holy  unto  our  Lord  ;  neither 

beyouforry,  for  the  Joy  of  the  Lord  is  your  Strength. 

So  thelj^xiitsjlilled  all  the  People,  faying.  Hold  your 

Peace,  for  the  Day  is  holy,  7ieither  be  ye  grieved.   And 

all  the  People  wejit  their  Way,  to  cat,  and  to  drink, 

ani  to  fend  Portions,  and  to  rnake  great  Mirth,  becauft 

they  had  underjiood  the  Words  that  were  declared  unto 

them.  ^ 

God  doubtlefs  now  cxpeds,  that  all  Sorts  of 
Perfons  in  New-Eyjgland,  Rulers,  Minifters  and 
People,  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  old  &  young, 
Ihould  take  great  Notice  of  his  Hand,  in  this  migh- 
ty Work  of  his  Grace,  and  fhould  appear  to  ac- 
knowledge his  Glory  in  it,  and  greatly  to  rejoice 
in  it,  every  one  doing  his  utmoft,  in  the  Place  that 
God  has  fet  them  in,  to  promote  it.  And  God, 
according  to  his  wonderful  Patience,  feems  to  be 
ftill  watting,  to  give  us  Opportunity,  thus  to  ac- 
knowledge and  honour  him.  But  if  we  finally  re- 
fufe,  there  is  not  the  kaft  Reafon  to  expeft  any 
other,  than  that  his  awful  Curfe  will  purfue  us,  and 
that  the  Pourings  out  of  his  Wrath  will  be  propor- 
tionable to  the  defpifed  Out-pourings  of  his  Spirit 
andGwce% 

PART 


(    147  ) 


PART     III. 

Shewingjin  many  Inftances,  where- 
in the  Subjedts^  or  zealous  Pro- 
moters of  this  WORK,  have 
been  injuriouily  blamed, 

THIS  Work  that  has  lately  been  carried 
on  in  the  Land,  is  the  Work  of  GOD, 
and  not  the  Work  of  Man.  It's  be- 
ginning has  not  been  of  Man's  Power  or  Device, 
and  it's  being  carried  on,  depends  not  on  our 
Strength  or  Wifdom  ^  but  yet  GOD  expeds  of 
all,  that  they  fhould  ufe  their  utmoft  Endeavours 
to  promote  it,  and  that  the  Hearts  of  all  Ihould  be 
greatly  engaged  in  this  AfFair,  and  that  we  fhould 
improve  our  utmoft  Strength  in  it,  however  vain 
human  Strength  is  without  the  Power  of  GOD  ; 
and  fo  he  no  lefs  requires  that  we  fhould  improve 
our  utmoft  Care,  Wifdom  and  Prudence,  tho'  hu« 
man  Wifdom,  of  it  felf,  be  as  vain  as  human 
S^(^"g^^^-  Tho'  GOD  is  won't  to  carry  on  fuch 
a  Work,  in  fuch  a  Manner,  as  many  Wavs,  to 
Ihew  the  Weaknefs  and  Vanity  of  Means  and  hu- 
man Endeavours,  in  themfelves ;  yet  at  the  Ikme 
I  ™e,  he  carries  it  on  in  fuch  a  Manner,  as  to 

encourage 


T  4  8  "^be  Need  of  Care  and  Difcretion.  P . III. 

encourage  Diligence  and  Vigilance,  in  the  Ulc  of 
proper  Means  and  Endeavours,  and  to  piinifti  the 
Negleft  of  them.  Therefore  in  our  Endeavours 
to  promote  this  great  Work,  we  ought  to  ufe  the 
utmoft  Caution,  Vigilance  and  Skill,  in  the  Mea- 
fures  we  take  in  order  to  it.  A  great  AfFairfhould 
be  managed  v\^ith  great  Prudence  :  This  is  the  nioft 
important  Affair  that  ever  Nciv-En^laudv7'as  c^ed 
to  be  concerncd'in.  When  a  Peon^eare  eh2:^2;ed 
la  War  witha  powerful  and  crafty  Natiron,  it  con- 
cerns them  to  manage  an  Affair  of  fuch  Confe- 
quence  with  the  utmoft  Difcretion.'  Of  what 
vaft  Importance  then  niuft  it  be,  that  we  fhould 
be  vigilant  and  prudent,  in  the  Management  of 
this  great  War  that  New-Efigland now  has,  with 
fo  great  aHoft  of  fuch  fubtle  and  cruel  Enemies, 
wherein  we  muft  ehher  conquer  or  be  conquered, 
and  the  Cdnfequenc^  of  the  Viftory,  on  one'^ide, 
will  be  our  eternal  Deftru6libn,  in  both  Souliand 
Body  in  Hell,  and  on  the  other  Side,  our  obtain- 
ing the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,  and  reigning  in  it  in 
eternal  Glory  ?  We  had  Need  always  to  ftand 
on  our  Watch,  and  to  be  well  verfed  in  the  Art 
of  War,  and  not  ta  be  ignorant  of  the  Devices  of 
our  Enemies,  and  to  take  Heed  left  by  any  Mearus 
we  be  beguiled  through  their  Subtilty.      .,  ,.  ;  . 

Tho'  the  Devil  be  ftrong,  yet  in  fuch  a  War  as 
this,he  depends  more.on  his  Craft  than  htsStrength  : 
And  the  Courfe  he  has  chiefly  t^ken,  from  Time 
to  Time,  to  clog,  hinder  and  overthrow  Revivals 
of  Religion  in  the  Church  of  GOD,  has  been  by 
his  fubtle,  deceitful  Management,  to  beguile  and 
miflead  thofe  that  have  been  engaged  therein  ; 

and 


p.  III.     Of  Addrejes  to  the  AffeElions.     1 49 

and  in  fuch  a  Courfe  GOD  has  been  pleafed,  in 
his  holy  and  fovcreign  Providence,  to  fufter  him 
to  fucceed,  oftentimes,  in  a  great  Meafure,  to 
overthrow  that,  which  in  its  Beginning  appear'd 
moft  hopeful  and  glorious.  .The  Work  that  is 
now  begun  in  Ne^v- England ^  is,  as  I  have  fhown, 
eminently  glorious,  and  if  it  fhould  go  on  and  pre- 
vail, would  make  New- England  2,  kind  of  Heaven 
upon  Earth  :  Is  it  not  therefore  a  thoufand  Pities, 
that  it  fhould  be  overthrown,  through  wrong  and 
improper  Management,  that  we  are  led  into  by 
our  fubtle  Adverfary,  in  our  Endeavours  to  pro- 
mote it  ? 

In  treating  of  the  Methods  that  ought  to  be  ta- 
^k^n  to  promote  this  Work,  I  would,  I.  Take  No- 
tice, in  fome  Inftances,  wherein  Fault  has  been 
found  with  the  Conduit  of  thofe  that  have  appear'd 
to  be  theSubjefts  of  it,  or  have  been  zealous  to 
promote  it,  (as  I  apprehend,)  beyond  juft  Caufe. 
II.  I  would  fhew  what  Things  ought  to  be  cor- 
recSed  or  avoided.  III.  I  would  fhew  pofitively, 
what  ought  to  be  done  to  promote  this  dorious 
XforJcofGOD. 

i.  I  would  take  Notice  of  fome  Things,  at 
which  Offence  has  been  taken  without,  or  beyond 

jufl  Caufe. 

One  Thing  that  has  been  complained  of,  is 

^Miiiiflers  addrefiing  themfelves,  rather  to  the  Af- 

'/eftions  of  their  Hearers,  than  to  their  Underfland- 

"^g?3  .^i^^d  flriving  to  raife  their  Paflions  to  the 

utmofl  Height,  ratherby  a  very  afFedionate  Man- 

n^offpeaking,  andagreat  Appearance  of  Ear- 

neftnefs. 


1 50     Of  Addrejfes  to  the  j1ffe£tions.     P.  III. 

neftnefs,  in  Voice  and  Gefture,  than  by  clear  Rea- 
foning,  and  informing  their  Judgment :  By  which 
Means,  it  is  objected,  that  the  AfFeflions  are 
moved,  without  a  proportionable  enlightening  of 
the  Underftanding. 

To  which  I  would  fay,  I  am  far  from  thinking 
that  it  is  not  very  profitable,  for  Minifters  in  thei.r 
Preaching,  to  endeavour  clearly  and  diftint^  to 
explain  theDocStrines  of  Religion,  and  unravel  the 
Difficulties  that  attend  them,  and  to  confirm  them 
with  Strength  of  Reafon  and  Argumentation,  and 
alfo  to  obferve  fome  eafy  and  clear  Method  and 
Order,  in  their  Difcourfes,  for  the  Help  of  the 
Underftanding  and  Memory  ;  and  'tis  very  pro- 
bable that  thefe  Things  have  been  of  late,  too 
much  negle<Sted,  by  many  Minifters  ;  yet,  I  be- 
lieve that  the  Objeftion  that  is  made,  of  Affeftions 
raifed  without  enlightening  the  Underftanding,  is 
in  a  great  Meafure  built  on  a  Miftake,  and  con- 
fufed  Notions  that  fome  have  about  the  Nature 
and  Caufe  of  the  AfFeftions,  and  the  Manner  in 
which  they  depend  on  the  Underftanding.  All 
Affeilions  are  raifed  either  by  Light  in  the  Under- 
ftanding^ or  by  fome  Error  and  Delufion  in  the 
JJnderJlanding  ;  for  all  AfFeftions  do  certainly  arife 
from  fome  Apprehenfion  in  the  Underftanding  ; 
and  that  Apprehenfion  muft  either  be  agreeable  to 
Truth,  or  elfe  be  fome  Miftake  or  Delufion  ;  if 
it  be  an  Apprehenfion  or  Notion  that  is  agreeable 
to  Truth,  then  it  is  Light  in  the  Underftanding,,: 
Therefore  the  Thing  to  be  enquired  into  is,  Whe-  i 
ther  the- Apprehenfions  or  Notions  of  divine  and 
eternal  Things,  that  are  raifed  in  Peoples  Minds, 


Pa .  Ill       Of  pathetical  Preaching.       1 5  ^ 

by  thefe  affeaionate  Preachers,  whence  their  Af- 
feaions  arc  excited,  be  Apprehenfions  that  arc 
agreeable  toTruth,  or  whether  they  are  Miitakes. 
If  the  former,  then  the  AfFeaions  are  raifed  the 
Way  they  (hould  be,  viz.  By  informing  tne 
Mind,  or  conveying  Light  to  the  Underftanding. 
They  go  away  with  a  wrong  Notion,  that  think 
that  thofe  Preachers  can't  affea  their  Hearers,  by 
enlightning  their  Underftandings,  that  don't  do  it 
by  fuch  a  diftina,  and  Jearned  handhng  of  the 
doarinalPoints  of  Religion,  as  depends  on  human 
Difciphne,  or  the  Strength  of  natural  Reafon,and 
tends  to  enlarge  their  Hearers  Learning,  and  fpe- 
culative  Knowledge  in  Divinity.  The  Manner 
of  Preaching  without  this,  maybe  fuch  as  fhall 
tend  very  much  to  fet  divine  and  eternal  Things, 
in  a  right  View,  and  to  give  theHearers  fuch  Ideas 
and  Apprehenfions  of  them  as  are  agreeable  to 
Truth,  and  fuch  Impreffions  on  their  Hearts,  as 
are  anfwerable  to  the  real  Nature  of  Things  :  And 
not  only  the  Words  that  are  fpoken,  but  theMan- 
ner  of  fpeaking,  is  one  Thing  that  has  a  great 
Tendency  to  this.  I  think  an  exceeding  affec- 
tionate Way  of  Preaching  about  the  great  Things 
of  Religion,  has  in  it  felf  no  Tendency  to  beget 
falfe  Apprehenfions  of  them  ;  but  on  the  contrary 
a  much  greater  Tendency  to  beget  true  Appre- 
henfions of  them,than  a  moderate,dull, indifferent 
Way  of  fpeaking  of  'em.  An  Appearance  of  Af- 
feaion  andEarneftnefsjin  theManner  of  Delivery, 
if  it  be  very  great  indeed,  yet  if  it  he  agreeable  to 
the  Nature  of  the  iSubjea,  and  ben't  beyond  a 
Proportion  to  its  Importance,  and  Worthinefs  of 
O  Affcaion; 


^5^       Of  paihciud  Prcachinz.        Pa.  Ill 


6- 


Affection,  and  there  be  no  Appearance  of  its  be- 
ing feigned  or  forced,  has  \q  much  the  greater 
Tendency  to  beget  true  Ideas  or  Apprehcnfions  in 
the  Minds  of  the  Hearers,  of  the  Subject  fpoken 
of,  and  fo  to  enlighten  the  Underftanding  :  And 
that  for  this  Reafon,  That  fuch  aWay  or  Manner 
of  fpeaking  of  thefe  Things,  does  in  Fact,  more 
truly  repr^fent  them,than"a  more  ccld  and  indiitl- 
rent  Way  of  fpeaking  of  them.  If  the  Subjea  be 
in  its  own  Nature,  worthy  of  very  greatAffeclion, 
then  a  fpeaking  of  it  with  very  great  Affecfion,  is 
nioft  agreeable  to  the  Nature  of  that  Subjcft,  or  is 
the  trueft  Reprefentation  of  it,  and  therefore  has 
moft  of  a  Tendency  to  beget  true  Ideas  of  it,  in 
the  Minds  of  thofe,  to  whom  the  Reprefentation 
is  made.  And  I  don't  think  Mhiifters  are  to  be 
blamed,  for  raifing  the  Affections  of  their  Hearers 
too  high,  if  that  which  they  are  affected  with,  be 
only  that  which  is  worthy  of  Affection,  and  their 
Affedlions  are  not  raifed  bevond  a  Proportion  to 
their  Importance,  or  Worthinefs  of  AfFeftion.  I 
fhould  think  my  felf  in  the  Way  of  my  Duty,  to 
raife  the  Affections  of  myHearers  as  high  as  poffi- 
biy  I  can,  provided  that  they  are  affected  with  no- 
thing but  Truth,  and  with  Affections  that  are  not 
difagreeable  to  theNature  of  what  they  are  affected 
with.  I  know  it  has  long  been  fafiiionable 
to  defpife  a  very  earneft  and  pathetical  Way  of 
Preaching  ;  And  they,  and  they  only  have  been 
valued  as  Preachers,  that  have  ihow^n  the  greateft 
Extent  of  Learning,  and  Strength  of  Reafon,  and 
Correclnefs  of  Method  and  Language  ;-  but  I 
humbly  conceive  it  has  beea  for  want  of  Under- 

fhndine:, 


Pa.  in.       Of  pathetical  Preaching.        153 

inding,  or  duly  confidering  human  Nature,  that 
luch  Preaching  has  been  tho't  tohavethegreateft 
Tendency  to  anfwer  the  Ends  of  Preaching  ;  and 
the  Experience  «df  the  preCent  and  paft  Ages  ahun- 
-  dently  confirms  the  fame.  Tho%as.  I  faid  before, 
Clearnefs  of  DilHnclion  &:.IlhiiT:rationsi,&. Strength 
ofReafon,  and  a  good  Methovl,  in  the  doctrinal 
Handling  of  the  Truths-  of  Religion,  is  many 
Ways  needful  and  profitable, and  not  to  be  neg- 
lected, yet  anincrcafe  in  fpeculative  Knowledge 
in  Divinity,  is  not  what  is  fo  much  needed  by  our 
People,  as  fomctliing  elfe.  Men  may  abound  ia 
this  Sort  of  Light  and  have  no  Heat  :  How  much 
has  there  been  of  this  Sort  of  Knowledge,  in  the 
-Chriftian  World y  ia  this  Age  ?  Was  there  ever 
an  Age,  wherein  Strength  andPenetration  of  Rea- 
fon,  Extent  of  Learning, Exa£lnefs  of  Diftinclion, 
Correflnefs  of  Style,  and  Clearnefs  of  Expreflion^ 
did  fo  abound  ?  And  yet  was  there  ever  an  Age^ 
wherein  there  has  been  fo  little  Scjnfe  of  the  Evil 
of  Sin,,  fo  little  Love  to  God,  heavenly  Minded- 
nefs,  and  Holinefs  of  Life,  among  the  Profeflbrs 
of  the  true  Religion  ?  Our  People  don't  fo  much 
need  to  have  their  Heads  ftored,  as  to  have  their 
Hearts  touched  ;  and  they  ftand  in  the  gr^ateft 
Need  of  thatSort  of  Preaching,  that  has  the  greateft 
Tendency  to  do  this. 

Thofe  Texts,  Ifai,  58.  i.  Cry  aloud ^  f^ are  not ^ 
lift  up  thy  Voice  like  a  Trumpet^  ayidjheiv  my  People 
their  Tranfgrejfion^  and  the  Houfe  of  Jacob  their 
Si?is,  And  Ezek.  6. 11 .  Tims  faith  the  Lord  God^ 
fmite  with  thine  Hand^  andjiamp  with  thy  Foot^ 
and  fay ^  alafs^  for  all  the  evil  Abomination  of  the 
O  2  Houfe 


154  Of affe5lionale^earnejlFr caching,  P.IIL 

Hotife  ^Ifrael  !  I  fay  thefeTcxts,  (however  the 
Ufc  that  fome  have  made  of  them  has  been  laugh- 
ed at,)  w^ill  fully  juftify,  a  great  Degree  of  P^/Ai?j, 
and  Manifeftation  of  Zeal  &  Fervency  in  preach- 
ing the  Word  of  God  :  They  may  indeed 'be 
abufed,  to  juftify  that  which  would  be  odd  and 
unnatural,  amongft  us^not  making  due  Allowance 
for  Difference  of  Manners  andCuftom,  in  differ- 
ent Ages  and  Nations  ;  but  let  us  interpret  them 
how  we  will,  they  at  leaft  imply,  that  a  moft  af- 
feftionate  and  earnefl:  Manner  of  Deliver}^,  in 
manyCafes,  becomes  a  Preacher  of  GoD'sWord. 

Preaching  of  the  Word  of  God,  is  com- 
monly fpoken  of  in  Scriptrue,  in  fuchExprcflions, 
P.S  feem  to  import  a  loud  and  carneftSpeaking  ;  as 
in  Ifai.  40.  2.  Speak  ye  co?nfortahIy  to  ]tr\i{?\tm^ 
and  cry  unto  her^  that  her  Iniquity  is  pardoned.  And 
Ver.  ?.  ne  Fci^e  of  him  tb^t  cri^th  in  the  PFilder^ 

ne/sy  ^prepare  ye  the  Way  of  the  Lord^- Verfe  6. 

Trie  Voice  f aid  Cry  :  And  he  f aid  ^  what /hall  I  cry  f 
Jll  Flejh  is  Grafs^  and  all  the  Goodlinefs  thereof^ 
as  the  Flower  of  the  Field,  Jer .  2 . 2 .  Go  and  cry  in 
theEars  of  ]tr whX^m, fay i7ig^thus faith  theLord.kc. 
Jonah  I.  2.  Arife.go  /^Nlnevah,  that  great  City  ^ 
and  cry  againjlit.  Ifai.  6r.  i,  2.  Tin  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  God  is  upon  me.,  hecaufe  the  Lord  hath  «- 
nointed  me.,  to  preach  good  Tidings  to  the  Meek.,-- 
to  proclaim  Liberty  to  the  Captives.,  and  the  opening 
if  the  Frifm  to  them  that  are  bound.,  to  proclaim  the 
acceptaWrearoftheLord,  and  the  YearofVcnge^ 
ance  of  our  God.  Ifai.  62.  11.  Behold,  the  Lord 
^^ath  proclaimed  unto  the  End  of  the  World,  fay  ye 
10  the  Daughter  cfZion,  behold  thy  Salvation  ccmeth 
^        "^  &c. 


Pa. III.   Of  lend  and  earnefi  Preaching.   155 

^'c.  Rom.  .10.  18.  Their  Sound  v^ent  into  all  the 
Earthy  and  theh  Words  to  the  End  of  the  World, 
Jier.  II.  6.  Proclaim  altthefe  Words. 'in^he£ities  of 
Judah,  t5f  in  theStrccts  <?/'JerufaIem,  fipng^  Hear 
ye  the  Words  of  this  Covenant^  and  do  them.  So 
Chap.  19.2.  ^  7.  2.  Prov.  8.1.  Doth  not  Wif 
dofncry^  and  IJnderftanding  put  forth  her  Voice  ? 
Ver.  3,  4.  She  crieth  at  the  Gates.,  at  the  Entry  of 
the  City.,  at  the  coming  in  at  the  Doors  ;  unto  you^ 
O  Men.,  I  call.,  and  my  Voice  is  to  the  Sons  of  Men  ! 
And  Chap.  i.  20.  TVifdom  crieth'  luithout.,  /he 
uttereth  her  Voice  in  the  Streets.  Chap.  g.  3.  She 
hath  fent  forth  her  Maidens y  Jhe  crieth  upon  the  high 
Places  of  Ihe  City.  John  7.  37..  In  the  lafr  Day . 
that  great  Day  of  the  Feajl.,  Jefus  Jlood  and  cried ^ 
faying.,  if  arty  Man  thir/1.,  let  hiin  ccTne  unto  ;;; . 
and  drink. 

It  feems  to  beforetold,  that  the  Gofpel  fhoi;!'! 
be  efpecially  preached  in  a  loud  and.  earneft  Man- 
ner, at  tlie  Introduction  of  the  profperous  Stat*: 
of  Religion,  in  the  latter  Days.  Ifai.  4c.  9.  U 
Zion,  that  hringeth  good  Tidings^,  get  thee  up  into 
the  high  Mountain  .  !  O  Jerufal^m,  that  hringeth 
good  Tidings^  lift  up  thy  Voice  with  Strer^gth  !  lljt 
up.,  and  he  not  afraid  I  Say  ujito  the  Cities  of  J  ud?h^ 
Behold  your  God  \  Ifai.  52.  7,8.  Hczv  beautiful 
upon  the  Alountafns^  are  the  Feet  of  him  that  hring- 
eth good  Tidings  !  -—  Thy  W^atchvenJhatl  lift  up  the 

Voice. Ifai.  27.  13   And  it  Jhall  czrne  to  pafs .,    in. 

that  Day.,  that  the  great  Trumpet  fall  he  hloijun.,  ana 

they  Jhall  'come  luhicfy  were  ready  to  perifj\ Arui. 

i-\%  will  be  one. Way,    that  the  Church  of  GoJ 
v«U  cry  at  that  Time,  like  a  travailing  Wcmen,^ 
O  3  w.cn. 


1^6  Ofpreachingterrortothediftrejfed.  P.IIL 

when  Christ  myftical  is  going  to  be  brought 
forth  ;  as  Rev.  i2»  at  the  Beginning.  It  will  be 
by  Minifters,  that  are  her  Mouth  :  And  it  will 
be  this  Way,  that  Christ  will  then  cry  like  a 
travailing  Woman,  as  in  Ifai.  42.  14.  Ihavelong 
Time  holden  my  Peace  :  I  have  beenjiill^  and  re- 
framed  ?ny  felf 'y  now  will  I  cry^  like  a  travailing 
IVaman,  Christ  cries  by  his  Minifters,  and 
he  Church  cries  by  herOfficers.  And  'tis  worthy 
:o  be  noted,  that  the  Word  commonly  ufed  in  the 
/^'^ew-Teftament,  that  we  tranflate/^r^^^A^proper- 
)'  fignifies  to  proclaim  aloud  like  a  Crier. 

Another  Thing  that  fome  Minifters  have  been 
.ready  blamed  for,  and  I  think  unjuftly,  is  fpeak- 
■  ng  Terror  to  them,  that  are  already  under  great 
rerrofSjinftead  of  comforting  them.  Indeed,  if 
Minifters  in  fuch  a  Cafe,  go  about  to  terrify  Per- 
fons  with  that  which  is  not  true,  or  to  affright 
'Vm  by  rej)refenting  their  Cafe  worfe  than  it  is, 
or  in  any  refpecl  otherwife  than  it  is,  they  are  to 
be  condemned  ;  but  if  they  terrify  'em  only  by 
ftill  hoWu^  forth  more  Light  to  them,  and  giving 
th^n  to  underftand  more  of  the  Truth  of  their 
Cafe,  they  are  altogether  to  be  juftlfied.  When 
Sinners  Confciences  are  greatly  awaken'd  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  it  is  by  Light  imparted  to  the 
Confclence,  enabling  them  to  fee  their  Cafe  to 
be,  in  fome  Meafure,  as  it  is  ^  and  if  more  Light 
be  let  in,  it  will  terrify  'em  ftill  more  :  but  Mi- 
nifters are  not  therefore  to  be  blamed  that  they 
endeavour  to  hold  forth  more  Light  to  theConfci- 
ence,  and  don't  rather  alleviate  the  Pain  they  are 
under,  by  intercepting  and  obftruilingthat  Light 

that 


Pa.  III.      Of  peaching  Terror  i^c.       1 57 

that  {hines  already.  To  fay  any  Thing  to  thofe 
who  have  never  believed  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  to  reprefent  their  Cafe  any  otherv^^ife 
than  exceeding  terrible,  is  not  to  preach  theWord 
of  God  to  'em  ;  for  the  Word  of  God  reveals 
nothing  but  Truth,  but  this  is  to  delude  them. 
Why  fliould  we  be  afraid  to  let  Perfons,  that  are 
in  an  infinitely  miferable  Condition,  know  the 
Truth,  or  bring  'em  into  the  Light,  for  fear  it 
fliould  terrify  them  ?  'Tis  Light  |that  muft  con- 
vert them,if  ever  they  are  converted.  The  more 
^  we  bring  Sinners  into  the  Light,  while  they  are 
miferable,  and  the  Light  is  terrible  to  them,  the 
more  likely  it  is,  that  by  and  by,  the  Light  will 
be  joyful  to  them.  The  Eafe,  Peace  &  Comfort, 
that  natural  Men  enjoy,  have  their  Foundation  in 
Darknefs  and  Blindnefs  ;  therefore  as  that  Dark- 
nefs  vanifhes,  and  Light  comes  in,  their  Peace 
vanifhes,  and  they  are  terrified  :  but  that  is  no 
good  Argument,  why  we  fhould  endeavour  to 
hold  their  Darknefs,  that  we  may  uphold  their 
Comfort.  The  Truth  is,  that  as  long  as  Men 
reje6lCHRisT,and  don't  favingly  believe  in  him, 
however  they  may  be  awaken'd,  and  however 
ftridl,  and  confciencious,  and  laborious  they  may 
be  in  Religion,  they  have  the  Wrath  of  God 
abiding  on  them,  they  are  his  Enemies,  and  the 
Children  of  the  Devil  ;  (as  the  Scripture  calls  all 
that  ben't  favingly  converted, i?/^/. 1 3.38.  i  Joh, 
3.  10.)  and  'tis  uncertain  whether  they  fliall  ever 
obtain  Mercy:  God  is  under  no  Obligation  to 
fliew  'em  Mercy,  nor  will  he  be,  if  they  faft  and 
pray  and  cry  never  /o  much  i    and  they  are  then 

efpecially 


15S  Of  preaching  Terror  Pa.  II!. 

cfpecially  provoking  God,  under  thofe  Terrors, 
tliat  they  ftand  it  out  againftCHRisT,  and  won't 
accept  of  an  ofFeredSAvjouR,  tho'  they  fee  fo 
much'Need  of.him  :  And  feeing  this  is  theTruth, 
they  fhould  be  told  fo,  that  they  may  be  fenfible 
what  their  Cafe  indeed  is. 

To  blame  a  Minifier,  for  thus  declaring  the 
Truth  to  thofe  who  are  under  Awakenings,  and 
not  immediately  adminiftring  Comfort  to  them,  is 
like  blaming  a  Surgeon,  becaufe  when  he  has  be- 
gun to  thruft  in  his  Lance,whereby  he  has  already 
put  his  Patient  to  great  Pain,  and  he  fhrinks  and 
cries  out  with  Anguifh,  he  is  fo  cruel  that  he 
won't  ftay  his  Hand,  but  goes  on,  to  thruft  it  in 
further,  'till  he  comes  to  the  Core  of  theWound. 
Such  a  compaffionate  Phyfician,  who  as  foon  as 
his  Patient  began  to  flinch,  ftiould  withdraw  his 
Hand,  and  go  about  immediately  to  apply  a 
Plaift^r,  to  Ikin  over  the  Wound,  and  leave  the 
Core  untouch'd,  would  be  one  that  would  heal 
the  Hurt  flightly,, crying  Peace, Peace, when  there 
is  no  Peace. 

Indeed  fomethfng  elfe.befi<les  Terror,.  Is  to  be 
preached  to  them,  whofe  Confciences  are  awa- 
ken'd  :  The  Gofpel  is  to  be  preached  to  them  : 
They  are  to  be  told  that  there  is  a  Saviour  pro- 
vided, that  is  excellent  and  glorious,  who  has  (bed 
his  precious  Blood  for  Sinners,  and  is  every  Way 
fufficient  to  fave  'em,  that  Hands  ready  to  receive 
'em,  if  they  will  -heartily  embrace  him  -,  for  this 
is  alfo  theTruth,  as  well  as  that  they  now  are  in  an 
infinitely  dreadful  Condition  :  This  is  the  Word 
of  God.     Sinners  at  the  fameTime  that  they  are 

tcl-i^ 


Pa.  III.       to  difirejfed  Confciences,         159 

Id  how  miferable  theirCafe  is^fhould  be  earneftly 
inited  to  come  and  accept  of  a  Saviour,  and 
\  iclJ  their  Hearts  unto  him,  with  all  the  winning, 
encouraging  Arguments,  for  'em  fo  to  do,  that 
the  Gofpcl  affords  :  but  this  is  to  induce  'em  to 
clcape  from  the  Mifery  of  the  Condition  that  they 
are  now  in  :  but  not  to  make  'em  think  their  pre- 
fent  Condition  lefs  miferable  than  it  is,  or  at  all  to 
abate  their  Uneafmefs  and  Diftrefs,  while  they  are 

'in  it  y  that  would  be  the  Way  to  quiet  them,  and 

^.feften  them  in  it^and  not  to  excite  'em  to  fly  from 

it.       Comfort,  in  one  Senfe,  is  to  be  held  forth, 

'''to  Sinners  under  Awakenings  of  Confcience,  i.e# 
Comfort  is  to  be  offered  to 'em  in  Christ,  on 
Condition  of  their  ^y'lngfrom  their  prefent  mtfer- 
able  State^  to  Him  :  but  Comfort  is  not  to  be  ad- 
miniflred  to  'em,  in  their  prefent  State^  as  any 
Thingr  that  they  have  now  any  Title  to,  or  while 
^ut  of  Christ.  No  Comfort  is  to  be  admini- 
ftred  to  'em,  from  any  Thing  in  them^  any  of 
theirQualifications,  Prayers  or  otherPeformances, 
paft,  prefent  or  future  ;  but  Minifters  fhould,  in 
fuch  Cafes,  ftrive  to  their  utmoft  to  take  all  fuch 
Comforts  from  'em,tho'  it  greatly  increafes  their 
TmoT.  A  Perfon  that  fees  himfelf  ready  to  fmk 
into  Hell,  is  ready  to  ftrive,  fome  Way  or  other, 
to  lay  God  under  fome  Obligation  to  hira  ;  but 
he  is  to  be  beat  off  from  every  Thing  of  that  Na- 
ture,tho'  it  greatly  increafes  hisTerror,to  fee  him- 
felf v/holly  deftitute,on  every  Side,of  any  Refuge, 
or  any  Thing  of  his  own  to  lay  hold  of ;  as  a 
Man  that  fees  himfelf  in  Danger  of  drowning,  is 
in  Terror,  and  endeavours  to  Catch  hold  on  every 

Twig 


i6o         Of  preachwg  Terror         Pa.  III. 

Twig  within  his  Reach,  and  he  that  pulls  away 
thofe  Twigs  from  him,  incrcafes  his  Terror  ;  yet 
rf  they  are  infufficient  to  lave  him,  and  by  being 
in  his  Way,  prevent  his  looking  to  that  which 
will  fave  hirn-,  to  puU  them  away,  is  neceffary  to 
iave  his   Life. 

If  Sinners  are  in  any  Diftrefs,  from  any  Error 
that  they  embrace,  orMiftake  they  are  under,  that 
is  to  be  removed  :  Forlnftance,  if  they  are  inTcr- 
ror,  from  an  Apprehenfion  that  they  have  com- 
mitted the  unpardonable  Sin,  or  that  thofeThings 
have  happen'd  to  'em  that  are  certain  Signs  ofRe- 
probation,  or  any  other  Delufion,  fuch  Terrors 
have  noTendency  to  do  them  anyGood  ;  for  thefe 
Terrors  are  from  Temptation, and  not  from  Con- 
vidlion  :  But  that  Terror  which  arifes  from_Con- 
viiSlion,  or  a  Sight  of  Tf  uth,  is  to  be  increafed  ; 
for  thofe  that  are  moft  awakened,  have  great  re- 
maining Stupidity,  they  have  a  Senfe  of  but  little 
of  that  which  is  ;  and  'tis  from  remaining  Blrnd- 
nefs  and  Darknefs,  that  they  fee  no  more  ;  and 
tjiat  remaining  Blindnefs  is  a  Difeafe,  that  we 
ought  to  endeavour  to  remove*  I  am  not  afraid 
to  tellSinners,that  are  moft  fenfible  of  theirMifery, 
that  theirCafe  is  indeed  as  miferable  as  they  think 
it  to  be,  and  a  thoufand  Times  more  fo  ;  for  this 
is  the  Truth.  Some  may  be  ready  to  fay  that 
tho*  it  be  the  Truth,  yet  the  Truth  is  not  to  be 
fpoken  at  all  Times,  and  feems  not  to  be  feafona- 
ble  then  :  But  it  feems  tome,  fuchTruth  is  never 
more  feafonable  than  at  fuch  aTime,  when  Chrift 
is  beginning  to  open  the  Eyes  of  Gonfcience. 
Minifters.oufrht  to  adl  asCo- Workers  with  him  y 

to 


Px.III.        to  diftrejfed  Confciences.        i6i 

to  take  that  Opportunity,  and  to  the  utmoft  to 
improve  that  Advantage, and  ftrike  while  the  Iron 
h  hot,  and  when  the  Light  has  begun  to  (nine, 
then  to  remove  all  Obftacles,  and  ufe  all  proper 
Means,  that  it  may  come  in  more-fuUy,  and  the 
Work  be  dojie  thoroughly  then.  AndExpericnce 
abundanly  fliews,  thiu:  to  take  this  Courfe,  is  not 
of  an  hurtful  Tendency,  but  very  much  the  con- 
trary :  I  have  k^n^  in  very  many  Liftances,  the 
happy  Effects  of  it,  and  oftentimes  a  A'ery  fpeedy 
happy  IfTue,  and  never  knew  any  illConfequence, 
in  Cafe  of  real  Convidtion,  and  when  Diftrefs  has 
been  only  from  thence. 

I  know  of  but  one  Cafe,  wherein  the  Trutli 
ought  to  be  witheld  from  Sinners  in  Diftrefs  of 
Confcience,  and  that  is  the  Cafe  af  Melancholy  ; 
And  'tis  not  to  be  witheld  from  them  then,  be- 
caufe  the  Truth  tend  to  do  'em  hurt^  but  becaufe 
if  we  fpeak  the  Truth  to  them,  fometimes  they 
v/ill  be  deceived,  and  led  intoError  by  it,  through 
that  ftrange  Difpofition  there  is  in  them,  to  take 
Things  wrong.  So  that, that  which  as  it  is  fpoken, 
is  Truth,  as  it  is  heard  and  received,  and  applied 
by  them,  is  Falfhood  ;  as  it  will  be,  unlefs  the 
Truth  be  fpoken  with  Abundance  of  Caution  and 
Prudence, .  and  Confideration  of  their  Difpofition 
and  Circumftances.  But  the  moft  awful  Truths, 
of  God's  Word,  ought  not  to  be  witheld  from 
public  Congregations,  becaufe  it  may  happen  that 
fome  fuch  melancholick  Perfons  may  be  in  it ;  any 
more, than  theBible  is  to  be  witheld  fromtheChrif- 
tian  World,  becaufe  it  is  manifeft  that  there  are  a 
Sreat  many  melanchoIickPerfons  in  Chriftendom, 

that 


1 62  "Treatment of  melanchoiickPn funs,  P.III. 

that  exceedingly  abufe  the  awful  Things  contain- 
ed in  theScripture,  t0  their  own  wounding.  Nor 
do  I  think  that  tp  be  of  Weight,  which  is  made 
ufe  of  by  foipe",  as  a  great  and  dreadful  Objedtion 
againft  the 'terrifying  Preaching  that  has  of  late 
been  m- New  England^  viz.  That  there  have  been 
Tome  Inftances  of  melancholick  Perfons  that  have 
lb  abufed  it,  that  the  Iffue  has  been  the.  Murder 
of  themfelves.  The  Objeaion  from  hence  is  no 
flronger  againft  awakening  Preaching,  than  it  is 
againft  the  Bible  it  felf  :  There  areHund reds, and 
probably  Thoufands  of  Inftances,  might  be  pro- 
duced,of  Perfons  that  have  murdered  themfelves, 
under  religious  Melancholy  :  Thefe  Murders, 
probably  never  would  have  been,if  it  had  not  been 
for  the  Bible,  or  if  the  World  had  remain'd  in  a 
State  of  heathenifti  Darknefs.  The  Bible  has  not 
only  been  the  Occafion  of  thefe  fad  EfFefts,  but  of 
Thoufands,  and  I  fuppofe  Millions,of  other  cruel 
Murders,  that  have  been  committed,  in  the  Per- 
fecutions  that  have  been  raifed,  that  never  would 
have  been,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  Bible  : 
Many  whole  Countrys  have  been,  as  it  were  de- 
luged with  innocent  Blood,  which  would  not 
have  been,  if  the  Gofpel  never  had  been  preached 
in  the  World.  'Tis  not  a  good  Objection  againft 
any  Xind  of  Preaching,  thSt  fome  Men  abufc  it 
greatly  to  their  Hurt.  It  has  been  acknowledged 
by  allDivines,  as  aThing  common  in  all  Ages,and 
all  Chriftian  Countrys,  that  a  very  great  Part  of 
thofe  that  fet  under  i:he  Gofpel,  do  fo  abufe  it, 
that  it  only  proves  an  Occafion  of  their  fiar  more 
a2;gravated  Damnation,  and  fg  of  Men's  eternally 

murdering 


Pa.III.  Of  Self-Murders.  ^^j 

n.urdcrin<^-theirSouIs;  which  is    an  EffeS  infi:    , 
nitelymoreterriblethantheMurderofthei^^^^^ 
'Tis  as  -unjuft  to  lay  the  Blame  of  tbeie- Self- 
Murders,  to  thofe  Minifters  who  hav.edcclare^ 
the  awful  Tmths   of  God's  Word,  in  the  moft 
lively  and  affeahig  Manner  they  were  capable  of, 
as  it'would  be  to  lay  the  Blame  of  hardeningMen's 
Hearts,   and  blinding  their  Eyes,  and  their  more 
dreadful  eternal  Damnation,  to  the  ProphetT/i/V:^, 
or  Jesus  Christ,  becaufe  this  was  the  Confe- 
quence  of  their  Preaching,  with  refpe£l  to  many 
of  their  Hearers.     IfaL  6.  lo.  Joh.  9.39.  A4ath. 
I?.  14.     Tho'   a  very  few  have  abufed   the  a- 
wakening  Preaching  that  has  lately  been,  to  fo 
fad   an  Effefl:  as  to   be  the  Caufe  of  their  own 
temporal  Death  ;  yet  it  may  be,   to  one  fuch  In- 
ftance,  there  have  beenHundreds,  yea  Thoufands, 
that  have  been  faved,  by  this  Means,  from  eter- 
nal   Death. 

What  has  more  efpecially  given  Offence  to 

many, and  raifed  a  loud  Cry  againft  fomePreacher  s, 

as  tho'  their  Conduft  were  intolerable,  is  their 

frighting  poor   innocent  Childrerr,   with  talk  of 

Hell-Fire,  and  eternal  Damnation.     But  if  thofe 

that    complain  fo  loudly  of   this,   really  believe, 

what  is  the  general  Profeflion  of  the  Country, 

viz.  That  all  are  byNaturetheChildren  of  Wrath, 

andHeirs  of  Hell  ;  and  that  every  one  that  has  not 

.    been  born  again, whether  he  be  young  or  old,  is  ex- 

-^  pofed,  every  Moment,   to  eternal  Deftruftion^ 

under  the  Wrath  of  Almighty  God  ;  I  fay,if  the^- 

really  believe  this,  then  fuch  aComplaint  and  Cry 

as  this,  bewrays  a  great  deal  o^V^^eaknefs  aiid  In- 

P  conHdcrr. 


1 54  OfpreachlngT^tiror.uChiUkin,  Pa. 1 11.' 

^confideration.  As  innocent  as  Children  Teem  to 
be  to  u-s,  yet,  if  they  are  out  of  Chrift,  they  are 
not  io  in  God's  Sight,  but  are  young  Vipers, 
and  are  infinitely  more  hateful  than  Vipers^  and 
are  in  a  moft  miferableCondition,  as  well  as  grown 
Perfons  ;  and  they  are  naturally  very  fenfelefs  and 
itupid,  being  horn  as  the  wild  JJJes  Colt^  and  need 
much  to  awaken  them.  Why  fhould  we  conceal 
the  Truth  from  tliem  ?  Will  thofe  Children  that 
have  been  dealt  tenderly  with,  in  this  Refpeft^and 
lived  and  died  infenfible  of  their  Mifery,  'till  they 
come  to  feel  it  in  Hell,  ever  thank  Parents,  and 
others,  for  theirTendernefs,  in  not  letting  thcni 
know  what  they  were  in  Danger  of.  If  Parents 
Love  towards  theirChildren  was  not  blind, it  would 
affe£l  'em  much  more  to  fee  tlicir  Children,evcjy 
Day,  expofed  to  eternalBurnings,  and  yet  fenfelef^, 
than  to  fee  'em  fuffer  theDiftrefs  of  thatAwaken- 
.  ing,  that  is  neceflary  inOrder  to  thcirEfcape  from 
them,  &  that  tends  to  their  being  eternally  happy, 
as  the  Children  of  God.  A  Child  that  has  a 
dan<yerous  Wounds  niay  need  the  painful  Lunce, 
as  well  as  grown  Perfons  ;  and  that  would  be  a 
foolifh  Pity,  in  fuch  a  Cafe,  that  fhould  hold  back 

the  Lance,  and  throw  away  the  Life. 1  have 

feen  the  happy  EfFeds  of  dealing  plainly,'  and 
thoroughly  v/ith  Children,  in  the  Concerns  of 
rlieir  Souls,  without  fparing  them  at  all,  in  many 
iV.ftances  ;  and  never  knew  any  ill  Confequence 
of  it,  in  any  one  Inftance. 

Another  Thing,  that  a  great  deal  has  been  faii 
againft,  is  having  fo  frequent  religious  Meetings, 
and  fpending  fo  much  Time  in  Religion.     An.i 

indce«K 


Pa  .III.  Spending  much  Time  in  Religion.   1 65 

indeed,  there  are  none  of  the  Externals  cf  Re- 
ligion, but  what  are  capable  of  Excefs  :  Andl be- 
lieve it  is  true,  that  there  has  not  been  a  due  Pro- 
portion obferved  in  Religion  of  late.  We  have 
placedReligion  too  much  in  the  external  Duties  of 
the  firft  Table  ;  we  have  abounded  in  religious 
Meetings,  and  in  praying,  reading,  hearing,ring- 
ing,and  religious  Conference  ^  and  there  has  njDt 
been  a  proportionable  Increafe  of  Zeal  for  Deeds 
of  Charity,  and  otherDuties  of  the  fecond  Table  ; 
(tho'  it  muft  be  acknowledged  that  they  are  alfo 
niudn  increafed.)  But  yet  it  appears  to  me, that 
thisObjection  of  Perfons  fpcnding  too  muchTime 
in  Religion,  has  been  in  the  general  groundlcfs* 
Tho*  worldly  Bufmefs  muft  be  done,  and  Perfons 
ought  not  to  negle£l  the  Bufmefs  of  their  particu-' 
lar  Callings,  yet  'tis  to  the  Honour  of  God,  that 
a  People  ftiould  be  fo  much  in  outward  Afts  of 
Religion,  as  to  carry  in  it,  a  vifible,  publick  Ap- 
pearance, of  a  great  Engagednefs  of  Mind  in  it, 
as  the  main  Bufmefs  of  Life  :  And  efpecially  is 
it  fit,  that  at  fuch  an  extraordinary  Time,  when 
God  appears  unufually  prefent  with  a  People,  in 
wonderful  Works  of  Power  and  Mercy,  that  they 
fhould  fpend  more  Time  than  ufual  in  religious 
Exercifes,  to  put  Honour  upon  that  God  that  is 
then  extraordinarily  prefent,  and  to  feekhis  Face  5 
as  it  was  with  the  Chriftian  Church  in  Jerufakniy 
on  Occafion  of  that  extraordinary  pouring  out  of 
the  Spirit,  foon'after  Christ's  Afcenfion.  A6t. 
2.46.  Jind  they  continued  daily  J  with  one  Accord^  in 
the  Temple^  and  breaking  Breads  from  Houfe  ioL 
Houfe.  And  fo  it  was  at  Epbefus^  at  a  Time  of? 
P  2  greatt 


1 66  Religion' shindringfecularBuJinefs.  P.III. 

great  Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  there  ;  theChrif- 
tians  there  attended  publick  religious  Exercifes, 
every  Day,  for  two  Years  togetJier,  Adt.  19.  8, 
9,  10.  Jnd  be  went  into  fhc  Synagogue^  and  f pa  It e 
boldly^  for  the  Space  of  three  Months^  difputing  and 
perfuading  the  Things  concerning  th e Kingdom  cf  God: 
But  ivhen  divers  were  hardejfd^and  believed  not  ;  but 
fpake  Evil  of  that  IFay^  before  the  Multitude^  he  de- 
parted from  them^  and  feparated  the  Difciples^  dif- 
puting daily  ^  in  the  School  of  one  Tyranny  s  ;  and 
this  continued^  by  the  Space  oftzvo  Tears  ;  fo  that 
all  they  which  dwelt  in  Afia,  hrar'd  the  Word  of  the 
Lord^  both  Jews  and  Greeks.  And  as  to  the 
grand  Objedlion,  o^ fix  Daysjhalt  thou  Labour^dW 
that  can  be  underftood  by  it,  and  all  that  the  very 
Obje6lors  themfelves  underftand  by  it,  is  that  we 
fnay  follow  our  fecular  Labours  in  thofe  fix  Days, 
that  are  not  the  Sabbath,  and  oi4ght  to  be  diligent 
in  them  :  Not  but  that  fometimes,  we  may  turn 
from  them,  even  within  thofe  fix  Days,  to  keep  a 
Day  of  Faffing,  or  Thankfgivirig,  or  to  attend  a 
Ledlure  ;  and  that  more  frequently  or  rarely,  as 
GoD^s  Providence,  and  the  State  of  Things,  fhall 
call  us,  according  to  the  beft  Judgment  of  our 
Difcretion. 

Tho^  fecular  Bufinefs,  as  I  faid  before,  ought 
not  to  be  neglefted,  yet  I  can't  fee  how  it  can  be 
maintain'djthat  Religion  ought  not  to  be  attended, 
fo  as  in  the  leaft  to  injure  our  temporalAflFairs,on 
any  other  Principles  than  thofe  of  Infidelity. 
tNone  objefts  againft  injuring  one  temporal Affiiir 
for  the  Sake  of  another  temporal  Affair  of  much 
)  greater  Importance  j  arid  tlierefore,  if  eternal 
i  ITiings 


P.III.  ReligiofishindringfecularBufinefs.  i6y 

Things  are  as  real  as  temporal  Things,  andare 
indeed  of  infinitely  greater  Importance  ;  then 
why  may  we  not  voluntarily  fufter,  in  fomeMea- 
fure,  in  our  temporal  Concerns,  while  we  are 
feeking  eternal  Riches,  and  immortal  Glory  ? 
'Tis  looked  upon  no  Way  improper  for  a  ^whole 
Nation,  to  fpend  confiderable  Time,  and  much 
of  their  outward  Subftance,onibme  extraordinary 
temporal  Occafions,  for  the  Sake  only  of  theCere- 
monies  of  a  public  Rejoicing  )  and  it  would  be 
thought  difhonourable  to  be  very  exaft,  about 
what  we  fpend,  or  careful  left  v/e  i.njure  our 
Eftates,  on  fuch  an  Occafion  ;  and  why  fhould 
we  be  exact  only  with  Almighty  God,  fo  that  it 
fhould  be  aCrime  to  be  otherwife  than  fcrupuloufiy 
careful,  left  we  injure  ourfelves  in  our  temporal 
Intereft,  to  put  Honour  upon  Him,  and  feck  our 
ov/n  eternal  Happinefs  ?  We  fhould  take  Heed 
that  none  of  us  be  in  any  wife  like  ^udas^  who 
greatly  complain 'd  ofneedlefsExpencc,and  Walrc 
of  outward  Subftaiice,  to  putHonour  uponChriit, 
when  Mary  broke  her  Box,  and  poured  the  pre-  ' 
cious  Ointment  on  his  Head  :  He  had  Indignation 
within  himfelf  on  that  Account,  and  crys  out. 
Why  was  this  IVaJie  of  the  Ointment  made  ?  For  k 
might  have  been  fold  for  more  than  three  Hundred 
Renee^and  ha^e  been  given  to  the  Poor.  Pvlark  14. 
3v45S5  ^^^  And  Job.  12.  4,  5,  i^c. 
:  Andbefides,  if  the  Matter  be  juftly  conudered 
and  examined,  I  believe  it  will  be  fourid,  that  the 
Country  has  loft  no  Time  from  their  temporal 
Aftairs,  by  the  late  Revival  of  Religion,  but  have  ' 
rather  gained  Time  5  and  that  more  Time  h?3 
P  3  been 


i6S  Spending  much  Time  inReligion.  Pa. 111. 

been  laved  from  Frolicking,  &  Tavern-haunting, 
Idlenefs,  unprofitable  Vifits,  vain  Talk,  fruitlefs 
Paftimes,  andneedlefs  Diverfions,  that  has  lately 
been  fpent  in  extraordinary  Religion  ;  and  proba- 
bly five  Times  as  much  has  been  faved  in  Perfons 
Eftates,  at  the  Tavern,  and  in  their  Apparel,  as 
has  been  fpent  by  religious  Meetings. 

The  great  Complaint  that  is  made  againft  fo 
much  Time  fpent  in  Religion,  can't  be  in  general 
from  a  real  Concern  that  God  may  be  honour^ed, 
and  his  Will  done,  and  the  beft  Good  of  Men 
promoted  ;  as  is  very  manifeft  from  this, that  now 
there  is  a  much  more  eameft  and  zealons  Out-cry 
made  in  the  Country,  againft  this  extraordinary 
Religion,  than  was  before,  againft  fo  much  Time 
fpent  inTavern-haunting,  vainCompany-keeping, 
Night-walking,&  otherThings,which  wafted  both 
our  Time  and  Subftance,  and  injured  our  moral 
Vertue. 

The  frequent  Preaching  that  has  lately  been, 
has  in  a  particularManner  been  objected  againft  as 
unprofitable  and  prejudicial.  'Tis  objefted  that 
when  Sermons  are  heard  fo  very  often,  oneSermon 
tends  to  thruft  out  another  ;  fo  that  Perfons  loofe 
theBenefit  of  all  :  They  fay,two  or  three  Sermons 
in  a  Week  is  as  much  as  they  can  remember  and 
digeft.  Such  Ohjedtions  againft  frequent  Preach- 
ing, if  they  ben't  from  an  Enmity  againft  Religi- 
on, are  for  Want  of  duly  confidering  the  Way  that 
Sermons  ufually  profit  an  Auditory.  The  main 
Benefit  that  is  obtain'd  by  Preaching,  is  by  Im- 
ipreffion  made  upon  the  Mind  in  the  Time  of  it, 
W  not  by  any  Effect  that  ^ni^  afterwards  by  a 

Remembrance 


Pa  .  Ill .        Of  frequent  Preaching.        1 69 

Remembrance  of  what  was  delivered.     And  tho' 
an  after  Remembrance  of  what  was  heard  in  a 
Sermon,  is  oftentimes  very  profitable  ;  yet,  for 
the  moft  Part,  that  Remembrance  is  from  an  Im- 
preflion  the  Words  made  on  the  Heart  in  the 
Time  of  it ;  and  the  Memory  profits,  as  it  renews 
and  increafes  that  Impreffion  ;    and  a  frequent 
inculcating  the  more  important  Things  of  Religi- 
on in  preaching,  has  no  Tendency  to  rafe  out 
fuch  Impreffions,  but  to  increafe  them,  and  fix, 
them  deeper  and  deeper  in  the  Mind,  as  is  found 
by  Experience.     It  never  ufed  to  be  objeQed  a- 
gainft,  that  Perfons,  upon  the  Sabbath,  after  they 
have  heard  two  Sermons  that   Day,    (hould  go 
home,  and  fpend   the  remaining  Part  of  the  Sab- 
bath in  reading  the  Scriptures,   and  printed  Ser- 
mons ;  which,  in  Proportion  as  it  has  a  Tendency 
to  afFedt  the  Mind  at  all,  has  as  much  of  a  Ten- 
dency to  drive  out-what  they  have  heard,  as  if  they 
heard  another  Sermon  preach'd.     It  feems  to  have 
been  the  Practice  of  the  Apoftles  to  preach  every 
Day,  in  Places  where  they  went ;  yea  tho'  fome- 
times  they  continued  long  m  one  Place,  J^s  2. 
42.  &  46.  Aofs  19.  8,9,10.     They  did  not  avoid 
preaching  one  Day,  for  Fear  they  fhould  thruft 
out  of  the  Minds  of  their  Hearers  what  they  had 
delivered  the  Day  before  ;  nor  did  Chriftians  avoid 
going  every  Day  to  hear,  for  Fear  of  any  fuch 
bad  EiFe(ft,  as  is  evident  by  JSfs  2.  42,  46. 

There  are  fome  Things  in  Scripture  that  feem 
to  fignify  as  much,  as  that  there  fhould  be  Preach- 
ing in  an  extraordinary  Frequency,  at  the  Time  / 
"when  God  (bould  be  abgut  to  iijtrgduce  that  flou- 

rifliing 


^  7^        Of  frequent  Preach'mg.        Pa,  III. 

riftiing  State  of  Religion  that  fhould  be  in  the  latter 
Days  3  as  that  in  Ifai.  62.  at  the  Beginning  :  For 
Zion's  Sake  will  I  not  hold  tny  Peace ^  for  Jerufa- 
lemV  Sake^  1  zvill  not  rejl ;  until  the  Righteoufmfs 
thereof  go  firth  as  Brightnefs^  and  the  Salvation 
thereof^  as  a  Lamp  that  humeth  :  And  the  Gentiles 
jhallfee  thy  Righteoufnefs ,  and  all  Kings  thy  Glory. 
And  Ver.  5,6.  For  as  a  young  Man  marrieth  a 
Virgin^  fojhall  thySons  marry  thee  ;  {if  as  theBride- 
groom  rejoiceth  ever  the  Bride ^  fo  /hall  thyGod  rejoice 
over  thee.  I  have  fet  Watchmen  upon  thy  Walls ^  O 
Jerufalem^  which  Jhall  never  hold  their  Peace ^  Day 
7iorNight.  The  Deftrudion  of  theCity  of  Jericho^ 
is  evidently,  in  all  its  Circumftances,  intended  by 
God,  as  a  great  Type  of  the  Over- throw  of  Sa- 
tan's Kingdom  ;  the  Priefts  blow^ing  w^ith  Trum- 
pets at  that  Time,  reprefentsMinifters  preaching 
the  Gofpel  ;  the  People  compafTed  the  City  feven 
Days,  the  Priefts  blowing  the  Trumpets  ;  but 
when  the  Day  was  come  that  the  Walls  of  the 
City  were  to  fall,  the  Priefts  were  more  frequent 
and  abundant  in  blowing  their  Trumpets  j  there 
was  as  much  done  in  one  Day  then,  as  had  been 
done  in  feven  Days  before  ;  they  compafled  the 
City  {^\txi  Times  that  Day,  blowing  their  Trum- 
pets, 'till  at  Length  it  come  to  one  long  and  per-  . 
petual  Blaft,  and  then  the  Walls  of  the  City  fell 
down  flat.  The  extraordinary  Preaching  that 
fhall  be  at  the  Beginning  of  that  glorious  Jubilee 
x)f  theChurch,.is  reprefented  by  the  extraordinary 
Sounding  of  Trumpets,  throughout  the  Land  of 
Canaan^  at  the  Beginning  of  the  Year  of  Jubilee  ; 
,and  by  the  reading  of  the  Law>  before  all  IfraeU 

in 


P.III.      Of  making  much  of  Out-  cries,     1 7 1 

m  the  Year  of  Releafe,  at  theFeaft  of  Tabernacles. 
And  the  Crowing  of  the  Cock,  at  break  of  Day, 
which  brought  Peter  to  Repentance,  feems  to  me 
to  be  intended  to  fignify,  theAwakening  of  God's 
Church  out  of  their  Lethergy,  wherein  they  had 
denied  their  Lord,  by  the  extraordinary  Preaching 
of  the  Gofpel,  that  fliall  be  at  the  Dawning  of  the 
Dj^  of  the  Churches  Light  and  Glory.  And 
there  feems  at  this  Day  to  be  an  uncommonHand 
of  divine  Providence,  in  animating,  enabling,  and 
upholding  fome  Minifters,  in  fuch  abundant 
L.ibours, 

Another  Thing, wherein  I  think  fomeMinifters 
have  been  injured,  is  in  being  very  much  blamed 
for  making  fo  much  of  Out-Cries^  Fain  tings,  and 
other  bodily  EfFedls  ;  fpeaking  of  them  as  Tokens 
of  the  Preftnce  of  God,  and  Arguments  of  the 
Succefe  of  Preaching  ;  feeming  to  ftrive  to  their 
utmoft  to  bring  a  Congregation  to  that  pafs,  and 
feeming  to  rejoyce  in  it,  yea  even  bleffing  God 
for  it,  when  they  fee  thefe  EfFeds. 

Concerning  this  I  would  obferve,  in  the  firjt 
Place,  That  there  are  many  Things,  with  RefpecSl 
to  dyings  out,  Falling  down  &c.  that  are  charged 
on  M^ifters,  that  they  are  not  guilty  of.  Some 
would  have  it,  that  they  fpeak  of  thefe  Things  as 
certain  Evidences  of  a  Work  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  on  the  Hearts  of  their  Hearers,  or  that  tkey 
efteem  thefe  bodily  EfFedls  themfelves  to  be  the 
Work  of  God,  as  tho'  the  Spirit  of  God  took 
hold  of,^  and  agitated  the  Bodies  of  Men  ;  and 
fome  are  charged  with  making  thefeThings  efle.*!- 
tial,  and  fuppofing  thatPerfons  can't  be  converted 

\vithOut 


1 7  2     Of  making  much  cf  Out-cries.     Pa. III. 

without  them  ;  whereas  I  never  yet  could  fee  the 
Perfon  that  held  either  of  thefe  Things. 

But  for  fpeaking  of  fuch  EfFefts  as  probable 
Tokens  of  God^  Prefence,  and  Arguments  of 
the  Succefs  of  Preaching,  it  feems  to  me  they  are 
not  to  be  blamed  ;  becaufe  I  think  they  are  fo  in- 
deed :  and  therefore  when  I  fee  them  excited  by 
preaching  the  important  Truths  of  GoD'sWord, 
urged  and  inforced  by  properArguments  and  Mo- 
tives, or  are  confequent  on  other  Means  that  are 
good,  I  don't  fcruple  to  fpeak  of  them,  and  to  re- 
joyc€  in  them,  and  blefs  God  for  them  as  fuch  ; 
and  that  for  this,  (as  I  think)  good  Reafon,  viz. 
That  from  Time  to  Time,  upon  proper  Inquiry 
and  Examination,  and  Obfervation  of  the  Confe- 
quence  and  Fruits,  I  have  found  that  there  are 
all  Evidences  that  the  Perfons  in  whom  thefe 
Effe^s  appear,  are  under  the  Influences  of  God's 
Spirit,  in  fuch  Cafes.  Cryings  out,  in  fuch  a 
Manner,  and  with  fuch  Circumftances,  as  I  have 
ften  them  from  Time  to  Time,  is  as  much  an 
Evidence  to  me,  of  the  general  Caufe  it  proceeds 
from,  as  Language  :  I  have  learned  the  Meaning 
of  it,  the  fame  Way  thatPerfons  learn  the  Mean- 
ing of  Language,  viz.  by  Ufe  and  Experience. 
I  confefs  that  v/hen  I  fee  a  great  Crying  out  in  a 
Congregation,  in  the  Manner  that  I  have  feen  it, 
when  thofe  Things  are  held  forth  to  'em  that  are 
worthy  of  their  being  greatly  afFe<Sled  by,Irejoyce 
in  it,  much  more  than  meerly  in  an  Appearance 
of  folemn  Attention,  and  a  Shew  of  Affeftion  by 
Weeping  ;  and  that  becaufe  when  there  have  been 
thofeOut- cries,  I  have  found  from  Time  toTinjc, 


1 


Pa. in.  Of  keeping  the  nffeBed  together,   173 

a  much  greater  and  more  excellent  EfFect.  To 
rejoyce  that  the  Work  of  God  is  carried  on  calm- 
ly, without  much  ado,  is  In  Effect  to  rejoyce  that 
*tis  carried  on  with  lefs  Power,  or  that  there  is 
not  lb  much  of  the  Influence  of  GoD'^Spirit  :  for 
tho' the  Degree  of  the  Influence  of  the  Spirit  of 
God,  on  particular  Perfons^  is  by  no  Means  to  be 
judged  of  by  the  Degree  of  external  Appearances, 
becaufe  of  the  different  Conftitution,  Tempers, 
andCircumflances  of  Men  ;  ye t'if  there  be  a  very 
powerful  Influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God  on  a 
mix'dMultitude,  it  will  caufe  fomeWay  or  other, 
a  great  vlfible  Commotion* 

And  as  to  Minifters  aiming  at  fuch  Effects,  and 
driving  by  all  Means  to  bring  a  Congregation  to 
that  Pafs,  that  there  fliould  be  fuc^  an  Uproar 
among  them  ;  I  fuppofe  none  aim  at  it  any  other- 
wife,  than  as  they  ftrive  to  raife  the  Affections  of 
their  Hearers  to  fuch  an  Height,  as  very  often  ap- 
pears In  thefeEffecfls  ;  and  if  it  be  fo,  that  thole 
Affections  are  commonly  good,  and  it  be  found 
by  Experience  that  fuch  a  Degree  of  them 
commonly  has  a  good  Effect,  I  think  they  are  to 
be  juftlfied  in  fo  doing. 

Again,  fome  Minifters  liave  been  blam'd  for 
keeping  Perfons  together,  that  have  been  under 
great  Affe<5tions,  which  have  appeared  in  fuch  ex- 
traordinary outwardManifeftations.  Many  think 
this  promotes  Confufion,  that  Perfons  in  fuchCir- 
cumftances  do  but  difcompofe  each  othersMinds, 
and  diffurb  the  Minds  of  others  ;  and  that  there- 
fore 'tis  beft  they  fliould  be  difperfed,and  that  when 
any  in  a  Congregation  are  ftrongly  feized,  that 

they 


1/4  "Ihe  happylnfuencc  of  Exa7nple.  Pa.IIL 

they  can't  forbear  outward  Manifeftations  of  it, 
they  fhould  be  removed  that  others  Minds  may 
not  be  diverted. 

But  I  can't  but  think  that  thofe  that  thusobjedt 
go  upon  quite  wrong  Notions  of  Things  :  For 
tho'  Perfons  ought  to  take  Heed  that  they  don't 
make  an  Ado  without  NecefTity  ;  for  this  will  be 
the  Way  in  Time,  to  have  Yuch  Appearances 
lofe  all  their  Efiedi:  ^  yet  the  unavoidable  Mani- 
feftatlons  of  flrong  religious  Affections  tend  to 
an  happy  Influence  on  the  Minds  of  By-ftanders, 
and  are  found  by  Experience  to  have  an  excellent 
and  durable  Effe£t ;  and  fb  to  contrive  and  order 
Things,  that  others  may  have  Opportunity  and 
Advantage  to  obferve  them,  has  been  found  to  be 
blefled,  as  a  great  Means  to  promote  the  Work  of 
God  ;  and  to  prevent  their  being  in  the  Way  of 
Obfervation,is  to  prevent  theEfFecSl  of  that,  which 
God  makes  ufe  of,  as  a  principal  Means  of  carr)'- 
ing  on  his  Work,  at  fuch  an  extraordinary  Time, 
^72;. Example  ;  which  is  often  fpoken  of  in  Scrip- 
ture, as  one  of  the  chief  Means  by  which  God 
would  .carry  on  his  Work,  in  the  Time  of  the 
Profperity  of  Religion  in  the  latter  Days  :  I  have 
mentioned  fome  Texts  already  to  this  Purpofe,  in 
what  I  publifhed  before,  of  the  Marks  of  a  Work  of 
the  true  Spirit  ;  but  would  here  mention  fome 
others.  In  Zech,  c),  15,  16.  Thofe  that  in  the 
latter  Days  fhould  be  fill'd,  in  an  extraordinary 
Manner  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  fo  as  to  appear  in 
outward  Manifeftations,  and  making  a  Noife,  are 
fpoken  of  as  thofe  that  God,  in  thefe  uncommon 
Circumftances,  will  fet  up  to  the  View  of  others, 

as 


Pa. III.    I'he  happy  Infiumu  of  Example,  1 75 

as  a  Prize  or  Enfign,  by  their  Example  and  the 
.  Excellency  of  their  Attainments,  to  animate  and 
draw  others,  as  Men  gather  about  an  Enfign,  and 
run  for  a  Prize,  a  Crov/n  and  precious  Jewels,fet 
up  in  their  View.  The  Words  are  -,  And  they 
Jhall  drlnk^  and  make  a  Noife,  as  thro'  Wine  ;  and 
.  they  Jhallhc  filled  like  Bowls,  and  as  the  Corners  cf 
th4,  Altar  :  and  the  Lord  their  God  Jhall  fave  them^ 
in  that  Day,  as  the  Flock  of  his  People  \  for  they  Jhall 
he  as  the  Stones  of  a  Crown,  lifted  up  as  an  Enfign 
upon  his  Land.  (But  I  ihall  have  Occafion  to  fay 
fomething  more  cf  this  Scripture  afterwards.) 
Thofe  that  make  the  Objeftion  I  amupon,inftead 
of  fuftering  this  Prize  or  Enfign  to  be  in  publick 
View,  are  for  having  it  removed,  and  hid  infomc 
Corner.  To  the  like  Purpofe  is  tnat,  Ifai.  62.  3. 
Thoujhalt  he  a  Crown  of  Glory,  in  the  Hand  of  the 
Lord,  and  a  royal  Diadem,  in  the  Hand  of  thy  God 
Here  it  is  obfervable,  that  'tis  not  faid,  thou  Ihalt 
be  a  Crown  upon  the  Head,  but  in  the  Hand  of  the 
Lord.  i.  e.  held  forth,  in  thyBeauty  and  Excel- 
lency, as  a  Prizg,  to  be  beftowed  upon  others  th?*: 
fhall  behold  thee,  and  be  animated  by  tlie  Bright- 
nefs  and  Luftre  which  God  fhall  endow  thee  with. 
The  great  Influence  of  the  Example  of  God's 
People,  in  their  bright  and  excellentAttainments^ 
to  propagate  Religion,  in  thofe  Days,  is  furthe- 
fignified,  inlfai.60.3.  Aiid  the  Gentiles  Jhall  coir- 
to  thy  Light, and  Kings  to  theBrightnefs  of  thy  rifmg. 
With  Ver.22.  A  litth  One  Jhall  become  aThcuJand, 
.  and  a  ftnall  One  ajlrcng  Nation.  And  Zech.  10. 
8,  9.  And  they  Jhall  increafe, as  they  have  increafed  \ 
and  I  willfow  thm  among  the  People*  And  Hof. 
Q.  '  2.  23, 


I ;  6     Of  earnejl  and  much  Talking     P  a  .  I II. 

2.  23.   And  I  will  fow  her  unto  me  in  the  Earth, 
Sojer.    31.  27. 

AnotherThing  that  gives  greatDi  fguft  to  many, 
is  the  Difpofition  that  Perfons  ihev/,  under  great 
AiFeclions,  to  fpeak  fo  much,  and,  with  fuch Ear- 
neftnefs  and  Vehemence,  to  be  fetdng  forth  the 
Greatness  and  Wonderfuhiefs  and  Inifxjitancc  of 
divine  h  eternal  Things  ;  and  to  be  fo  paffionalel^. 
warning,  inviting  and  intreating  others.  • 

Concerning  which  I  would  fay.  That  I  am  fnr 
from  thinking  that  fuch  a  Difpofition  fhould  be 
wholly  >ithout  any  Limits  or  Regulation,  (as  I 
fhall  more  particularly  fhew  afterwards  ;)  and  I 
believe  fome  have  erred,  \v\.  fetting  no  Bornds, 
and  indulging  and  encouraging  this  Diipofitiou 
withoiit  any  kind  of  Reftraint  or  Direction  :  But 
yet,  it  feems  to  me,  that  fuch  a  Difpofition  in  ge- 
neral,is  v/hat  bothReafon  &  Scripture  will  jufliry. 
Thofe  that  are  offended  at  fuch  Things,  as.  the' 
they  v/ere  unreafonaMe,  are  net  jufl  :  upon  Ex.. 
minatlon  it  will  probably  be  found, that  they  ha. . 
oneRule  of  reafoning  about  temporal  Things,  and 
another  about  fpirituai  Things.  They  v/cn*t  at 
all  wonder,  ifaPerfon  on' fome  very  great  and 
aftecling  Occafion,  of  extraordinary  Danger  or 
great  Jov,  ^hat  eminently  and  immediately  con- 
cerns him  and  others,  is  difpofed  to  fpeak  much, 
and  with  great  Earneftnefs,  efpecially  to  thofe  to 
whom  he  is  united, in  theBonds  of  dear  Affection, 
and  great  Concern  for  their  Good,  And  there- 
fore, if  they  wcrejuft,  why  would  not  they  allow 
it  in  fpirftual  Things  ?  and  m.uch  7nQre  in  them, 
agreeably  to  tiie  vaftly  greater  Imp ortai^ce,   and 

moT^? 


P A .  I II.  under  AffeSiions.  177 

more  aftetSting  Nature  of  fpiritual  Things,  and 
the  Concern  which  true  Religion  caufes  in  Mens 
Minds  for  the  Good  of  others^  and  the  Difpofition 
it  gives  and  excites  to  fpeak  God's  Praiks,  to 
fhew  forth  his  infinite  Glory,  and  talk  of  all  his 
glorious  Perfections  and  Works  ? 

That  a  very  great  .Senfe,  of  the  right  Kind,  of 
the  Importance  of  the  Thitigs  of  Religion,    and 
theDanger  Sinners  are  in,  fhouJd  fometimes  caufe 
an  rtlmoic'  infuperable   Difpofition   to  fpeak  an^ 
warn  others,   is  agreeable  to  Jer.  6.  10,  11.   To 
zukom  /hall  I  fpeak  ^  end  give  IVarning^   that  they 
7nay  hear  ?  Behold^  their.  Ear  is  zmcirciwicifed^and 
they  cannot  hearken  ;  behold  the  Word  of  the  Lord  is 
imto  theni^  a  Reprgi^h  \    they  have  no  Delight  in  it. 
Therefore  .1  am  full  of  ih^  Fulry^f  the  Lord  \  1  am 
weary  with  holding  in  ;  I  will  pour  it  ^t  upon  the' 
Children  abroad^  and  upon  the  AJfembly  of  the  young 
Men  together:,  for  even  the  Hufband  tvhh  the  Wife 
/hall  be  taken,  the  aged,  with  him  that  is  full  of  Dap. 
And  that  true  Chriftians,  when  they  come  to  be 
as  it  were  waked  out  of  Sleep,  and  to  be  filled 
with  a  fweet  and  joyful  Scnfe   of  the  exceJlei.t 
Things  of  Religion,   by  the  preaching  of  the  Gof- 
pel,  or  by  other  Means  of  Grace,  fliould  be  dif- 
pofed  to  be  much  in  fpeakiifg  of  divincThings,tho' 
before  they   were   dumb,   is   agfeeable   to  what 
CHRisT;fays  to  his  Church,   Cant.  7.  9.   Anclibe 
Roof  of  thy  Mouth  is  like  theh^Jl  Wine,   for  my  Be- 
loved, thatgoeth  downfweeily,  caufing  the  Lips  cf 
thofe  that  are  afleep  to  fpeak.     The  Roof  of  the 
Churches  Mouth,  is  the  Officers  in  the  Church, 
that  preach  tli^Gofpel  i  theirWord  is  toCHRIST^s 
0.2  Beloved, 


178      Of  the  Noife  Perfons  make     P  a  ,  Ilf . 

Beloved,  like  the  bcft  Wine,  that  goes  down 
fweetly ;   extraordinarily  refrefhing  &  enlivening 
the  Saints,  caufing  them  to  fpeak,    tho'  before 
they  vi^ere  mute  and  afleep.     "Tis  faid '  by  fome, 
that  the  People  that  are  the  Subjefts  of  this  Work, 
when  they  get  together,talking  loud  and  earneftly, 
in  their  pretended  great  Joys,  feveral  in  a  Room, 
talking  at  the  fame  Time,   make  a  Noife  juft  like 
a  Company  of  drunken  Perfons.     On  w^hich  I 
would  obferve,  that  it  is  foretold  that  God's  Peo- 
ple fliould  do  fo,  in  that  ferementioned  Place, 
Zech.  9.  15,16,17.  which  I  Ihall  now  take  more 
particular  Notice  of  :    the  Words  are  as  follows  y 
The  Lord  of  Ho/is  Jhall  defend  them  \    and  they  Jl:all 
devour  and  fubdue  with  (ling  Stmts  ;  and  they  Jhall 
drink,  c^ndmaha  N<itfe^  as  through  Wine ^  and  they 
Jhall  be  filled  like  Bowls ^  and  as  the  Corners  of  the 
Altar  :    And  the  Lord  their  God  Jhall  fave  them  in 
that  Day^  as  the  Flock  of  his  People  ;  for  they  Jhall 
he  as  the  Stones  of  a  Crown^  lifted  up^  as  an  Enfign^ 
upon  his  Land :    For  how  great  is  his  Goodnefs  I 
and  hew  great  is  his  Beauty  !     Corn  Jhall  make  the 
young  Men  cheerful^    and  new  JVine   the  Maids. 
TheWords  are  very  remarkable  :  Here  it  is  fore- 
told, that  at  the  Time  when  Christ   {hall  fet 
up  an  univerfal  Kingdom  upon  Earth,   {Ver,20,) 
The  Children  of  Zion  fhall  drink,   'till  they  are 
filled  like  the  Veflels  of  the  San6luary   :  and   if 
we  would  know  Avhat  they  fhall  be  thus  filled 
with,  the  Prophecy  does,  in   EfFeft,   explain  it 
feif:  They  fhall  be  filled,  as  the  VefTels  of  the 
Sanftuary    that   contained  the  Drink-OfFering, 
which  was  Wine  3  and  yet  the  Words  impl/jthat 

it 


p.m.  'ij^'hen  together  under  great  AffeEl  tons,  i  ^() 

it  (halJ  not  literally  be  Wine  that  they  fball  drink, 
and  be  filled  with,  becaufe  it  is  faid,  They  {hall 
drink,  and  make  a  Noife,  cs  through  Wine^  as  if 
tiiey  had  drank  Wine  :  which  implies  that  they 
liad  not  liierally  done  it  ;  and  therefore  we  muft 
un-Jerftaad  the,  Words,  that  they  (hall  drink  into 
Lhat,  and  be  filled  witli  that,,  which  the  Wine  of 
th ;  Drink-Offering  reprefented,  or  was  a  Type 
of,  which  is  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  well  as  die 
Blood  of  Christ,  that  new  Wine  that  is  drank 
in  our  heavenly  Father's  Kingdom  :  They  fhall 
be  filled  with  the  Spirit,  which  the  Apoftle  fets 
in  Oppofition  to  a  being  drunk  with  ^Vine,  Eph. 
5.  18.  This  is  the  n^w  Wine fpoken  of,  Ver.ii. 
'Tis  the  fame  with  that  htji  Wine^  fpoken  of  in 
Cayiticl^s^  that  goes  dr^wn  fweeily^  caufaig  the  Lips  of 
thofe  that  are  afuep  to  fpeak,  'Tis  here  foretold, 
that  the  Children  of  Z/W/,  in  the  latter  Days, . 
fhould  be  filled  with  that  which  fhould  make  'em 
cheerful,  and  caufe  'em  to  make  a  Noife  as  thro' 
Wine,  and  by  which  thefe  joyful  happy  'Perfons 
that  are  thus  filled,  fhall  be  as  die  Stones  of  a 
Crown,  lifted  up  as  an  Enfign  upon  Got)'sLand, 
being  made  joyful,  in  the  extraordinary  Mani^ 
feftadons  of  the  Beauty  and  Love  of  Christ  : 
as  it  follows,  jf/i/tc^gTt't'?/  h  his  Goodnefs  !  And  how 
great  is. his  Beauty  !  And  'tis  further  remarkable 
diat  'tis  here  foretold,  that  it  fhould  be  thus  ef- 
pecially  amongft  young  People.;  Coi'n  jhall  make 
the  young  Alen  cheerful^  arid  new  Wine  the  Maids ^ 
It  would  be  ridiculous  to  underftand  this  of  literal 
Bread  and  Wine  :  without  doubt,  the  fame  fpiri- 
tual  BlelSngs  are  fignified  by  Bread  &  Wine  here, 
0^3  wliichJ 


1 8  o     OfPerfons  making  a  Noife  ^c.  P  .111 . 

which  were  reprefented  by  MelchizedecPs  Bread 
and  Wine,  and  are  fignified  by  the  Bread  &  Wine 
in  the  Lord's  Supper.  One  of  the  marginalRead^ 
ings  is,  Jhall  make  the  young  Men  to  /peak  ;  which 
is  agreeable  to  that  in  Canticles^  of  the  beji  Wine's 
caufmg  the  Lips  of  thofe  that  are  ajleep  to  /peak. 

We  ought  not  to  be,  Jn  any  Meafure,  like  the 
unbelieving  Jews^  in  Christ's  Time,whowere 
difgufted  both  with  crying  out  with  Diftrefs,  and 
with  Joy.  When  the  poor  blind  Man  cried  out, 
before  all  thtW[\x\t\t\xdQ^}ESV s ^thouSon  of  T>7iyiA^ 
have  Mercy  on  me  !  and  continued  inftantly  thus 
doing,  the  Multitude  rebuked  him,  and  charged 
bim  that  he  fliould  hold  his  Tongue,  Mark  lo. 
46,47,48.  wd  Luke  18.  38,  39.  They  looked 
upon  it  to  be  a  very  indecentNoife  that  he  made  ; 
a  Thing  very  ill  becoming  him  to  caufe  his  Voice 
to  be  heard,  fo  much,  and  fo  loud,  among  the 
Multitude,  And  whenCHRi s  T  made  his  folemn 
and  triumphant  Entry  into  Jerufalem^  (  which,  I 
have  before  obferved,  was  a  Type  of  the  Glory 
and  Triumph  of  the  latter  Days,)  the  whole  Mul- 
titude of  theDifciples,  of  all  Sorts,efpec!alIy  young 
People,  began  to  rejoyce  and  praife  God,  with  a 
loud  Voice,  for  all  the  mighty  Works  that  they 
had  feen,  faying,  Bleffed  he  the  King  that  cometh  in 
the  Name  of  the  LORD  !  Peace  in  Heaven^  and 
Glory  in  the  highefi  !  ThePharifees  faid  to  Christ,' 
Mhjiery  Rebuke  thy  Difciples.  They  did  not  un- 
dqrfendfuch  great  Transports  of  Joy;  it  feem'd 
to  them  a  very  unfuitahle  and  indecent  Noife  and 
Clamour  that  they  made,  a  confufedUproar,many 
frying  out  together,  as  tho'  they  were  out  of  their 

"Wits  i 


i 


Pa  .  III.        Of  many  /peaking  togtther.      1 8  i 

Wits  ;  they  wondered  that  Christ  would  tole- 
rate it.  But  what  fays  Christ  ?  I  tell  you^  that 
I  if  thefe  Jhoiild.  hold  their  Peace ^  the  Stones  would  im* 
\  mediately  cry  out.  The  Words  feem  to  intimate 
I  as  much,  as  that  there  was  Caufe  enough  to  con- 
I  ftrain  thofe  whofe  Hearts  were  not  harder  than 
^  the  very  Stones,  to  cry  out,  and  m^ke  a  Noife  ; 
'  which  is  fomething  like  that  other  Expreffion,  of 
caufmg  the  Lips  of  thofe  that  are  afleep  ti>  fpeak. 

When  many  under  great  religious  AfFeftions, 
are  earneftly  fpeaking  togetherjof  divine  Wonders, 
In  variousPartsof  a  Company,  to  thofe  that  are 
next  to  *em  ;  fome  attending  to  what  one  fays^. 
and  others  to  another,  there  is  fomething  very 
beautiful  in  it,  provided  they  don't  fpeak  fo  many 
as  to  drown  each  others  Voices,  that  none  can 
hear  what  any  fay  ;  there  is  a  greater  and  more 
affefting  Appearance  of  a  joint  Engagednefs  of 
Heart,in  theLove  &  Praifes  of  God-.  And  I  had 
rather  fee  it,  than  to  fee  one  fpeaking  alone,  and 
all  attending  to  what  he  fays  ^  it  has  more  of  the 
Appearance  of  Converfation.  When  a  Multitude 
meets  on  any  Occafion  of  temporal  Rejbycing, 
freely  and  cheerfully  to  converfe  together,  they 
ben't  won't  to  obferve  the  Ceremony^  of  but  one 
fpeaking  at  a  Time,  while  all  the  Reft,  in  a  for- 
mal Manner,  fet  themfelves  to  attend  to  what  he 
fays  ;  that  would  fpoil  all  Converfation,  and  turn 
it  into  the  Formality  of  fet  Speeches,  and  the  fo- 
lemnity  of  Preaching.  It  is  better  for  Lay-Per- 
fons,  when  they  fpeak  one  to  another  of  the 
Things  of  God,  when  they  meet  together,  to 
/peak  after  the  Manner  of  ChriitianCgnverfation, 

thao 


1 82  Of  frequent  Singing,         Pa.  III.; 

than  to  obferve  the  Formahty  of  but  one  fpeaking 
at  a  Time,  the  whole  Multitude  filently  and  fo- 
lemnly  attending  to  what  he  fays  ;  which  would 
carry  in  it  too  much  of  the  Air,  of  the  Authority ' 
and  Solemnity  of  Preaching.  What  the  Apoftle 
fays,  I  Cor.  14.29,30,31.  Let  the  Prophets  fpeak^ 
twOy  or  ihr>ee^  and  let  the  other  judge  :  if  any  Thing 
he  revealed  to  another  that  fitUth  hy  ^  let  the  fir Jl  hold 
his  Peace  :  for  ye  may  all  prophecy^  one  by  one^  thai, 
all  may  learn ^  and  all  may  he  comforted^  I  fay,  this 
don't  reach  this  Cafe  ;  becaufe  what  the  Apodle 
is  fpeaking  of,  is  the  folemnity  of  their  religious 
Exercifes,  in  publick  Worfoip,  "an d Per fons  fpeak- 
ing in  the  Church,  by  immediate  Infpiration,  and 
in  the  Ufe  of  the  Gift  of  Prophecy,  pr  fome  Gift 
of  Infpiration,  in  the  Exercife  of  which,  they. 
acted  as  extraordinary  Minifters  of  Christ. 

Another  Thing  that  fome  have  found  Fault. 
with, is  abounding fo  much  in  fmging,  in  religious 
Meetings.  Objecting  againft  fuch  aThing  as  this, 
feems  to  arife  fromaSufpicion  already  eftabliftied  of 
thisWork  :  They  doubt  of  the  pretended  extra  or- 
dinary Love  and  Joys  that  attend  thisWork^and  fo 
find  Fault  with  the  Manifeftations  of  them.  ;  If 
they  thought  Perfons  were  truly  the  Subjefts  of 
an  extraordinary  De2;ree  of  divine_Lcvcs;aHid  hea-., 
venly  rejoycing  iu  God,' I  fuppofe  .ti^jt  S^puid 
not  wonder  ^t  their  havmg.atDiipK^fition-  to  be 
much  in  Praife.  They  wc>n't  objefc  againft  the 
Saints  &  Angels  in  Heav?n.-f:ngH}g  Praifes  and 
Hallelujahs  to  God,  wi:hout  ceafing-,  Day; or 
^  Night  ;  and  therefore  doubtlefs  will  allow  that 
\the  more  the  Saints  q»  Earth  are  like.  ^€m  in  their 
^  ^  Difpofitions^ 


Pa.  III.         Of  frequent  Singing.  1S3 

Difpofitions,  the  more  they  will  be  difpofed  to  do 
like  'em.  They  will  readily  own  that  the  gene- 
rality of  Chriftians  have  great  Reafon  to  be  afha- 
med  that  they  have  fo  little  Thankfulnefs,  and  are 
no  more  in  praifmg  God,  whom  they  have  fuch 
infinite  Caufe  to  Praife.  And  why  therefore, 
fhould  Chriftians  be  found  Fault  wi th, for  fhe wing 
aDifpofition  to  be  much  in  praifmg  God,  and 
manifefting  a  Delight  in  that  heavenly  Exercife  i* 
To  complain  of  this,  is  to  be  too  much  like  the 
Pharifees^vAio  were  difgufted  when  the  Multitude 
of  the  Difciples  began  to  rejoyce,  and,  with  loud 
Voices,  to  praife  God,  and  cry  Hofanna,  when 
Christ  was  entring  into  Jerufalem. 

There  are  many  Things  in  Scripture,  that  feem 
to  intimate  that  praifmg  God,  both  in  Speeches 
and  Songs,  will  be  what  the  Church  of  God 
wiU  very  much  abound  in,  in  the  approaching 
glorious  Day.  So  on  the  feventh  Day  of  com- 
pafTmg  the  Walls  of  Jericho^  when  the  Priefts 
blew  with  the  Trumpets,  in  an  extraordinary 
Manner,  the  People  fhouted  with  a  great  Shout, 
and  the  Wall  of  the  City  fell  down  flat.  So  the 
Ark  was  brought  back  from  its  Banifhment,with 
extraordinary  ftiouting  and  finging  of  the  whole 
Congregation  of  Ifrael.  And  the  Places  in  the 
Prophecies  of  Scripture,  that  fignify  that  the 
Church  of  God,  in  that  glorious  Jubilee  that  is 
foretold,  fhall  greatly  abound  in  finging  &  fhout- 
ing  forth  the  Praifes  of  God,  are  too  many  to  be 
mentioned.  And  there  will  be  Caufe  enough  for 
it  :  I  believe  it  will  be  aTime  wherein  both  Hea- 
ven 


I S  4  Of  Hymns  of  human  Compofure.  P a  . III. 

vcn  and  Earth,    will  be  much  more  full  of  Joy 
and  Praiie,   than  ever  they  were  before.    ■ 

But  w^hat  is  more  efpeciaJIy  found  Fault  with  in 
the  fmging  that  is  now  praaifeJ,  is  making  ufe  of 
Hymns  of  humane  Compofure.  And  I  am  far 
from  thinking  that  the  Book  of  Pfalms  fhould  be: 
thrown  by  in  our  publick  Worfnip,  but  that  it 
foou?i  always  be  ufed  in  the  Chriftian  Church,  to 
the  End  of  the  World  :  But  I  know  of  no  Obliga- 
tion we  are  under  to  confine  our  felves  to  it-  I 
can  find  no  Command  or  Rule  of  God's  Word, 
that  does  any  more  confine  us  to  theWords  of  the 
Scripture  in  our  finging,  tharl  it  does  in  oljr  pray- 
ing ;  we  fpeak  to  God  in  both  :  and  I  can  fee 
no  Reafon  why  we  ihould  limit  our  felves  to.  fiich 
particular  Forms  of  Words  J  that  we  find.in.thci 
BiWe,  in  fpeaking  to  him  by  Way  of  Praife,  in 
Metre,  and  with  Mufick,  than  when  we  fpeak 
to  him  in  Profe,  by  Way  of  Prayer  and  Suppli- 
cation. And  'tis  really  needful  that  we  fhould 
have  fome  otherSongs  befides  thePfalms  oi David: 
'Tis  unreafonable  to  fuppofe  that  the  Chriftian  • 
Church, fhould  for  ever, and  even  in  Times  of  her 
greateft  Light  in  her  Praifes  of  God  &  theLamb, 
be  confined  only  to  the  Words  of  the  old  Tefta- 
ment,  wherein  all  the  greatefl  and  moft  glorious 
Things  of  the  Gofpel,  that  are  infinitely  the 
greateft  Subjects  of  her  Praife,  are  fpoken  of  un- 
der a  Veil,  and  not  fo  much  as  the  Name  of  our 
glorious  Redeemer,  e\'er  mention 'd,  but  in  fome 
dark  Figure,  or  as  hid  under  the  Name,  of  fome 
Type.  And  as  to  our  making  ufe  of  the  Words 
of  others,  and  not  thofe  that  are  conceived    by 

our 


f  A.m.       0/  Childrcns  Meetings.  1 8 5 

our  fclves,''ti^  no  more  than  we  do  in  all  our  pub- 
Ilck  Prayers  ^  the  whole  worfhipping  AflembJv, 
excepting  one  ouly,  makes  ufe  of  the  Words  that 
are  ccncelved  by,  him  that  fpeaks  for  the  reft. 

Another  Thing  that  many  have  diiliked,  is  the 
feligioiis  Meetings  of  Children,  to  read  ai:d  pray 
[  together,  and  perform  religiousExerciil-s  by  them- 
•  M\'<:s.  What  is  objected  is  Childrcns  want  of 
that  Knowledge  and  Difcretion,  that  is  requinte, 
ill  order  to  a  decent  and  profitable  Miinagcment 
of  religious  Exercifes.  .  But  it  appears  to  me  the 
Objection  is  not  fufficient  :  Children,  as  they 
have  the  Nc  ture  of  Men,  are  inclined  to  Society  ; 
and  thofe  of  them  that  are  capable  of  Society  one 
ich  another,  are  capable  of  the  Influences  of 
Lne  Spirit  of  God,  in  itsaclive  Fruits  ;  and  if 
they  are  inclined  by  a  religious  Difpofition,  that 
they  have  from  the  Spirit  of  God,  to  improve 
their  Society  one  with  another,  in  a  religious 
Manner,  and  to  religious  Purpofes,  who  fliould 
forbid  them  ?  If  they  han't  Difcretion  to  ob- 
ferve  Method  in  their  religious  Performances,  or 
to  fpeak  Senfe  in  all  that  they  fay  in  Prayer,  they 
may  notwithftanding  have  a  good  Meaning,  and 
God  underftands  'em,  and  it  don't  fpoil  or  inter- 
rupt their  Devotion  one  for  another.  We  thr.t 
are  grov/n  Perfons,  have  Defects  in  our  Prayers, 
that  are  a  thou fand  Times  worHe  in  the  Sight  of 
God  J  and  are  a  greater  Confufion,  and  more  ab- 
furd  Nonfenfe  in  his  Eyes,  than  their  childifli  Tn- 
difcretions.  There  is  not  fo  m^jch  Difference 
before  God, between  Children  &  grown  Perfons, 
as  we  are  ready  to  imagine  ;  we  are  all  poorj'gno- 

rant. 


1 S  6         Of  Childrens  Meetings.        Pa  .III. 

rant,  foolifh  Babes,  in  his  Sight  :  Our  adult  Age 
don't  bring  us  fo  much  nearer  to  God,  as  we  are 
apt  to  think.  God  in  this  Work  has  (hewn  a 
remarkable  Regard  to  little  Children  ;  never  was 
there  fuch  a  glorious  Work  amongft  Perfons  in 
their  Childhocd,  as  iias  been  of  late,  mNew  Eng- 
land :  He  has  been  pleaied  in  a  wonderful  Manner  ; 
to  perfeci  Praife  out  of  the  Mouths  of  Babes  and 
Sucklings  ;  and  m:.ny  of  them  have  more  of  that 
Knowledge  and  Wifdom,  that  pleafes  him,  and 
renders  their  religious  Wcrfhip  acceptable,  than 
many  of  the  great  and  learned  Men  of  theWorld  : 
'Tis  they,  in  the  Sight  of  God,  are  the  ignorant 
and  foolifh  Children  :  Thefe  are  grown  Men,and 
an  hundred  Years  old,  inComparifon  with  them  ; 
and  'tis  to  be  hoped  that  the  Days  are  coming, 
prophefyed  of  Ifai.65.  20.  when  the  Child Jhall die 
an  hundred  Years  old. 

I  have  ktri  many  happy  EfFefts  of  Childrens 
religious  Meetings  j  and  God  has  feem'd  often 
remarkably  to  own  them  in  their  Meetings,  and 
really  defcended  fromHeaven  to  be  amongft  them  f 
I  have  known  feveral  probable  Inftances  of  Chil- 
drens being  converted  at  fuchMeetings.  I  ftiould 
therefore  think,  that  if  Children  appear  to  be 
really  moved  to  it,  by  a  religious  Difpofition,  and 
not  meerly  from  a  childifhAiFedlation  of  imitating 
grovv^n  Perfons,  they  ought  by  no  Means  to  be 
difcouraged  or  difcountenanced  :  but  yet  'tis  fit 
that  Care  fliould  be  taken  of  them,  by  their  Pa- 
rents, and  Paflors,  to  inftrucSt  and  direct  them, 
and  to  correft  imprudent  Condudl  and  Irregulari- 
ties, if  they  are  perceived  \  or  ?^rxy  Thing  by 

which 


Fa.III.        Of  Childr ens  Meetings.         i^T 

iKhich  the  Devil  may  pervert  and  deftroy  the  De- 
/ign  of  their  Meetings.  All  (hould  take  Heed 
that  they  don't  find  Fault  with,  and  defpife  the 
Religion  of  Children,  from  an  evil  Principle, 
left  they  fhould  be  like  the  chief  Priefts  and 
Scribes,  who  were  fore  difpleafed  at  the  religious 
Worfhip  and  Praifes  of  little  Qiildren,  and  the 
Honour  they  gave  Christ  in  the  Temple.  We 
have  an' Account  of  it,  and  of  w^hat  Christ  faid 
upon  it,   in  Mat.  21.  15,16.   And  zvhen  the  chief 

'  Priejh  if  Serines  Jaw  the  luonderftd  TIAngs  that  he 
did^  and  the  Children  crying  in  the  Temple^  ayidfay- 

-  ing^  Hofanna  to  the  Son  of  David,  they  were  fare 
difpleafed^    and  faid  unto  him  ^   Hearefl  thcu  ivhat 

"thefe  fay  ?  And  Je  s  u  s  faith  unto  them^  yea  ;  have 

ye  never  read.  Out  of  the  Mouths  of  Babes  and 
Sucklirtgs,  thou  haft  per fe^ed  Praife  ? 


R  PART. 


(   i88  ; 

PART    IV. 

Shewing  what  Things  are  to  be 
corrected  or  avoided^  in  pro- 
moting this  V/ORK,  or  in  our 
Behaviour  under  it. 

•  AVING  thus  obferved,  in  fomelnftan- 
CCS,  wherein  the  Condudi:  of  thcfe 
that  have  appeared  to  be  the  Subjecls 
of  this  Work, or  have  been  zealous  to 
^.^romotc  it,  has  been  objeded  againft  or  com- 
plained of,  without  or  beyond  juft  Caufe,  I  pro- 
ceed now  in  the 

11.  Place,  to  fhew  what  Things  ought   to  be 
corrected  or  avoided. 

ALmy  tliat  are  zealous  for  this  glorious  Wor  k 
.jfGOD,  ate  heartily  fick  of  the  great  Noife  there 
s  in  thuCountry, about  Tmpri/^ences  ^ndDifordcrs  ; 
th(tY  have  heard  it  fo  often  from  the  Mouths  of 
Oppofers  that  they  are  prejudiced  againft  the 
.-^ound  ;  and  they  loak  upon  it  that  That  which 
15  called  a  h^mg  prudent  and  regular^  3iivbidiis"& 
much  infifted  on,  is  no  other  than  being  afleep,or 
void  and  dead  in  Religion,  and  tliat  the  great  Im- 
;  rudence  that  is  fo  much  cried  out  of,  is  only  a 
being  alive,  and  engaged  in  the  Things  of  God  : 
and  they  are  therefore  rather  confirmed  in  an  / 
?radice,  than  brought  off  from  it,  by  theClu- 
■lOur  ihcy  hear  againft  it,   as  imprudent  and  irrc 

oujar. 


P  .  ]  '-n.  c  7:ca!ous  prejudtccd  &c.     189 

,  :i.  :.A.i  cv>  ijU  the  Trath,  the  Cry  of  Irre- 
;iarity  aiidlnTgrqcrence  has  been  much  more  in 
i!  cMouthii  of  tliafe  that  have  been  Enemies  to  the 
Main  of  the  Work  than  others  J  for  they  have 
yvatched  for  the  Malting  of  the  Zealous,  and 
feacrerly  catched  at  anyThing  that  has  been  wrong, 
and  have  greatly  infilled  on  it,  made  the  moft  of 
it,and  magnified  it ;  efpecially  have  they  watched 
for  Errors  in  zealous  Preachers,  thiit  are  much  in 
reproving  and  condemning  theWickednefs  of  the 
Times  :  Thqy  would  therefore  do  well  to  confider 
that  Scripture,  Ifai.  29.  20,  21.  The  Scorner  is 
cofifumedj  and  all  that^zvatch  for  Iniquity  are  cut  off'y 
that  niake  a  Man  an  Offender  for  a  IFord^  and  lay 
'(^jSmre  fr>  him.  that  r^roveth  in  the  Gate^  and 
iftrn  ajidf  the  Jujl  for  a  Thing  of  naught.  They 
Han't  only  too  much  infifted  on,  arid  magnified 
real  Errors,  but  have  \cxy  injurio'ufly  charged 
them  as  guilty,  in  Things  wherein  they  have  been 
innocent,  and  have  done  their  Duty*  This  has 
1q  prejudiced  the  Minds  of  fome,  that  they  have 
t«en.  ready  to  think  that  all  that  has  been  faid 
aipyt  Errors  and  Imprudences,  v^as  injurious  and 
from  an  ill.  Spirit  ;  and  has  confirrried  them  in  it, 
that  there  is  no  fuch  Thing  as  any  prevailing  Im- 
pjrudences  ;  and  it  has  made  'em  lefs  cautious 
ajj^  fufoicious  of  themfelves,  left  they  Ihould 
ern  Herein  the  Devil  has  had  an  Advantage  put 
into  his  Hands,  and  has  taken  the  Advantage  ; 
ajid,,.  doubtlefs,  has  been  too  fubtil  fox  fome  of  the 
true  Friends  of  Religion.  That  would  be  a 
ilrange  Thing  indeed,  if  in  fo  great  a  Commo- 
tioaand  Revolution,  and  fuch  a  new  State  of 
R  2  Things, 


1  go         Noife  about  Imprudences.      Pa  .  W. 

Things,  wherein  fo  many  have  been  engaged, 
none  have  been  guilty  of  any  Imprudeiice  4  it 
would  be  fuch  a  Revival  of  Religion,as  never  was 
yet,  if  among  fo  many  ]\!len,  not  guided  by  in-' 
fallible  Infpiration,  therq  had^ot  been  prevailing 
a  pretty  many  notable  Errors  in  Judgment  and.; 
ConducSl  j  our  young  Preachers,  and  youngCon- ' 
verts,  muft  in  general  vaftly  exceed  Luther^  the 
Head  of  the  Reformation,  who  was  guihy  of  a 
great  many  ExcefTes,  in  that  great  Affair,  in 
w^hich  God  made  him  the  chief  Jnftrument. 

,  If  we  look  back  into  the  Hiftory  of  the  Church 
of  God  in  pad:  Ages,  v/e  may  obferve  that  it  has 
been  a  common  Device  of  the  Devil,  to  overfet 
a  Revival  of  Religion,  when  he  finds  he  can  keep 
Men  quiet -and  ie cure  no  lon^jer,  then  to  driW: 
""emto  ExcefTes  and  Extrav%ante$.  He  holds' 
them  back  as  long  as  he  can,  but  when  'he  can 
do  it  no  longer,  then  he'll  pufh 'em  on,  and  if 
pcffible,  run  /em  upon  their  Heads.  And  it  has 
been'by  this  Means  chiefly,  that  hehas  been  fuc'^ 
cefsful,  in  leveral  Inftances,  to  overthrew  moff" 
hopeful  and  promifing  Beginnings  :  yea, the  prin^' 
cipal  Means'by  which  the  Devil  was  fuccefsftilj^ 
by  Degrees,  to  overfet^that  grand  religious  Revi-* 
val  of  the  World  >  that  was  in  the  primitive  Ages^ 
of  Chriftianity,  and  in  a  Manner,  to  overthrd^' 
theChriftian  Church  thro'  the  Earth,  and  to  make' 
Way  for,  and  bring  on  the  great  antichrift&ri 
Apoftacy,  that  Mafter-Piece  df  all  the  D^evil's 
Work,  was  to  improve  the  indifcreet  Zeal  6V 
Chriftians,  to  drive  them  into  thofe  three  Ex- 
-Uemes,  of  Enthuf.afm^SuperJfition^  and  Severity 

toivardi 


Pa.1V*    Of  the  Danger  of  Exirmes.     1 91 

t.:wards  Opppfers  ;   which  ihoiild  be  enough  for  an 
everlafting  Warning  to  the  Chriftian  Church. 
Tho'  the  Devil  will  do  his  Diligence  to  ftir  up 

•  the  open  Enemies  of  Religion,  yet  he  knows 
what  is  for  his  Intereft  fo  well,  that  in  a  Time 
<ff  ]f^'evivaIorReligion,  his  main  Strength  fnall 
be  tried  with  the  Friends  of  it,  and  he '11  chiefly 
-eVert  himfelf  ia  hlsAttempts  upon  them^to  iniilead 
them*     One  tiuly  zealous  Perfo  11,    in  the  Time 

'of  f  :ch  an  Event^  that  feems  to  have  a  greatHand 
•^.in  the  Affair,  and  draws  the  Eyes  of  many  upon 
him,  may  do  more,  (thro'  Satan's  being  too  fubt  • 
for  him,)  to  hinder  the  Work,  than  an  hundred 
o!;reat,  and  ftrong,  and  open  Oppofers. 
"  In  the  Time  of  a  great  IFork  of  Cht.ist,  his 
Hands,  with  which  he  worh.,  are  often  wounded 
in  the  Houfe  of  his  Friends  ;  and  his  XVork  hin- 
dred  chiefly  by  them  :  So  that  if  an y^onj^  inquire:, 
as  in  Zech,  13.  6.  Tf'l:at  areihofe  Wcun.h  in  thtrf 
Hands  ?  He  may  anfwer,  Tkoje^  with  ziLkh  I 
ivas  wounded  in  the  Haufe  of  ny  Friendu 

The  Errors  of  the  Friends  of  theWorkofGod^ 

and  efpecially  of  the  great  Promoters  of  it.*   give 

'vafl:  .Ad\'antage  to  the  Enemies  of  fuch  a  Work. 

•Indeed  there  are  many  Things  that  are  no  Errors^^ 

>but  are  onlyDuties  faithfully  and  thcroughly-dcne^ 

^  -that  wound  the  Minds  of  fuch  Per  ions  more,  and 

are  more  crdfsto  'em,  than  reaLErrors  :  but  yet 

one  realError  gives  Oppofers .as  muchAdvantage, 

and  hinders  .and  clogs  the  Work,  as  much  -  as  tci* 

itiiat.are  only  (ugpofed  ones.     Real  .Errors  don't 

*  -frst  and  gaui  theEnemies  of  Religion^  famuch -as 

'ihofe  Tilings  that  are  fl:rI6l}y  right  ^  ^hut-ttey^en 


V 


192  Of  the  ill  Confequ^nces  of  Errors.  Pa.IV.' 

courage  *em  more  ;  they  give  *ein  Liberty,  ind 
open  a  Gap  for  'em  ;  *fo  that  fome  that  befor-c 
kept  their  Enmity  burning  in  their  own  Bowels, 
and  durft  *not  fhow  themfelves,  will  on  fuch  aa 
-Occafion  tikeCourage,  and  give  themfelves  Vent, 
■  ahd  their  Rage  will  be  like  that  of  an  Enemy  let 
loofe  ;  and  diofe'that  lay  ftiU  before,  having  no- 
thing to  fay,  but  whit  they  would  bealhamed  of, 
(agreeable  to  717.2.8.)  when  they  have  fuch  a 
Weapon  put  into  their  Hands,  will  fight  with  all 
^Vic^ence.  And  indeed-the  Enemies  of  Religion 
would  not  know  what  to  do  for  Weapons  to  fight 
with,  were  it  not  for  the  Errors  of  the  Friends  of 
it ;  and  fo  muft  foon  fall  before  them.  And  be- 
fides,  in  real  Errors,  Things  that  are  truly  difa^ 
greeable  to  the  Rules  of  God's  Word,  we  can't 
expe£t  the  divine  Protection,  and  that  God  will 
appear  on  our  Side^as  if  ourErrors  were  only  fup- 
pofed  ones. 

Since  therefore  theErrors  of  the  Friends  &Pro- 
moters  of  fuch-a  glorious  Work  of  God,  are  of 
.  fuch  dreadful  Confequence  j  and  feeing  theDevil, 
-  being  fenfible  of  this,  is  fo  airiduous,and  watchfal 
and  fubtil  in  his  Attempts  with  them,  and  has 
thereby  been  fo  fuccefsful  to  overthrow  Religion 
heretofore,  certainly  fuch  Perfons  ought  to  be  ex- 
ceeding circumfpea  and  vigilant,  <iiffident  and 
icalous  of  themfelves,  and  humbly  dependent  on 
.he  Guidance  of  the  good  Shepherdo     i  Pet-^.;. 
i,v  fober,  and  watch  unto  Prayer.     And  Chap.5. 8. 
\    Be  fohcr^  -ie  vigiiant  5  becaufe  your  Jdverfary  the 
^Devily  ^as  a  roaring  ^Lion^  walketh  about^—r  or 
■^^erfgns to  go  oa  refglutely,  in  a  Kind  of  Heatand 

Vehemence, 


?/  '^       Of'fieedvf  GircumJpMon.      igs 


Vciicmence,  defpifingAdmonkipn  antlCorre£lion, 
-ing  ccniident  that  they  muft  be  in  the  Right, 
caufe  they  are  full  of  the  Spirit,  is  direaiy  con- 
.ry  to  the  Import  of  thefe  Words,  be  fober^ 
vigilant.  .       '      '  . 

'Tis  a'-Miftake,  I  have  obferved  in  feme, 
by  which' they  have  been  greatly  expofed,  to  their 
Wounding,  that  they  think  they  are  in  no  Danger 
of  going  aftray,or  being  mlfled  bytheDevil,becai>f^ 
they  are  near  to  God  ;  and  fo  have  no  jealous 
Eye  upon  themfdves,  and  neglect  Vigilance  and 
Circumfpe6lion,  as  needlefs  in  their  Gafe.  They 
fay,  they  don't  think  that  God  v^^ill  leave  them  to 
difhonour  him,  and -wound  Religion,  as  long  as 
they  keep  near  to  him  :  And  I  believe  fo  too,  as 
long  as  they  keep  near  to  God  in  that  Refpect, 
that  they  maintain  an  universal  &  dihgentWatch, 
and  Gar£  to  do  their  Duty,  and  avoid  Sin  and 
Snares,  with  Diffidence  in  themfelves,  and  hum- 
ble Dependence  andPrayerfuInefs  :  but  not  meerly 
becaufe  they  are  near  toGoD,in  thatRefpeft,  that 
they  now  are  receiving  blefled  Communications 
from  God,  in  -refrefhing  Views  of  him;  if  at 
the  fame  Time  they  let  down  their  Watch,  and 
are  not.  jealous  over  their  own  Hearts,  by  P^eafon 
of  it's- remaining  Blindnefs  and  Corruption,  arida 
flibtil  Adverfary.  'Tis  a  grand  Error,  for' Per- 
rons' to  think  they  are  out  of  Danger  of  the  Devil, 
and  a  corrupt,deceitfuIHeart,even  in  their  higheffi 
Fh'ghts,  and  moft  raifed  Frames  of  fpiritual' Joy> 
For  Perfons  in  fuch  a  Confidence,  to  ceafe^o  be 
;  jealous  of  themfelves,  and  to  negjeft  Watchful- 
ftefsand  Care,  is  a  Preruinpugal)/  which  I  have 

knoyvn 


'194       Of  the  Need  of  Vigilance^      Pa.  IV. 

known  many  wofuUy  enfhared .     However  highly 
we  may  be  favoured  with  divine  Difcoveries  anfl 
Comforts,  yet-aslong  as  we  are  in  the WorldjWc 
are  in  the  Enemies  Country  ;  and  therefore  fliat 
Direftion  of  Christ  to  his  Difciples  is  never  out 
of  Date  in  this  World,  Luke  21.  36.  TVaich  anS 
pray  always^thatye  may  be  accounted  worthy  to  efcape^ 
all  thefe  Things^  and  tojiand  before  theSon  of  ManJ 
It  was  not  out  of  Date  with  the  Difciples,    to 
whom  it  was  given,  after  they  came  to  be  filled 
fo  full  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  and  out  of  their  Bellies 
flowed  Rivers  of  living  Water,  by  that  greatEfFu- 
fion  of  theSpirit  upon  them, that  began  on  theDay 
of  P^entecoJ}.     And  tho'  Gdd  ftands  ready  to  pro- 
tect his   People,  efpecially  thofe  that  are  near  to 
.  him,  yet  he  expefts  great  Care  and  Labour  of  all  ; 
and  that  we  fhould  put  on  the  w^holc  Armour  of 
God,   that  we  may  ftand  in  the  evil  Day  :    and 
whatever  Spiritual  Priviledges  we  are  raifed  to^ 
-we  have  no  Warrant  to  expe£l  Prote6lion  in  any 
other  Way  ;  for  God  has  appointed  this  whole 
-Xfife,  as  a  5tate  of  Labour,  to  be  all,  as  a  Race 
or  a  Battle  -,  the  State  of  Reft,  wherein  we  fhall 
be  fo  out  of  Danger,  as  to  have  no  Need  of  Watch- 
ing and  Fighting,  is  referved  for  another  '^Vorld, 
1  have  known  itinAbundance  of  Inftances,thatthe 
Devil  has  come  in  very  remarkably^   even  in  the 
Mnidftof  flie  moft  exalted, and  upon  fome Accounts 
:  excellent  Frames  :  It  may  feem  a  great  M}^ery 
^  that  it  fhould  be  fo  ;  but  'tis  no  greater  Myfteiy, 
'iban  that'GHRiST.fliouId  be  taken -Captive -by 
i^e  Devil,  arid  carried  into  theWildernels,  imme- 
diately after  the  Heavens  had-  beea  open'd  to  him , 


r  A .  1\  .     in  Times  of  high  Experience.     195 

and  the  Holy  Ghoft  defcended  like  a  Dove  upon 
him,  and  he  heard  that  comfortable,  joyful  Voice 
from  the  Father,  faying,  This  is  my  beloved  Son^ 
in  whom  lam  wtllpleafed,  'In  liKeManner  Chrift 
.in'tbc  Heart  of  aChriftian,  is  oftentimes  as  it  were 
taken  by  the  Devil,  and  carried  Captive  into  a 
Wildernefs,prefently  after  Heaven  has  been,  as  it 
were  openM  to  the  Soul,  and  the  Holy  GholVhas 
defcended  upon  i^  like  a  Dove,and  God  has  been 
fweetly  owning  the  Believer,  and  teftifying  his 
Favour  to  him  as  his  beloved  Child. 

'Tis  therefore  a  great  Error,  and  Sin  in  fome 
Perfons,  at  this  Day,  that  they  are  fixM  in  their 
'.  Wa)^,  in  fpme  Things  that  others  account  Errors, 
ami  ^oii't  'hcaricen  to  Admonition  and  Counfel, 
feut^t^  confident  that  they  are  in  the  right  of 
it,  rri^'thofePra<?tices  Qiat  they  find' t^cmfelves  dif- 
pofed  to,  tecaufe  God  is  much  with  them,  and 
they  have  great  Degrees  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
There:  were  fome  Rich  in  the  Apoftles  Days  : 
The  'Apoftle  Paul^  Visiting  to  the  Corinthians, 
Y'^f  ^^^^^^^-^h^t  ^ome  of  them  would  not  be  eafily 
^^^tY^'^^^  *^^^  ^hey  had  teen  in  anyError,becaufe 
thef  looked  upon  themfelves  Spiritual,  or  full  of 
the  Spirit  of  God.  i  Cor.  14.  37,  38.  If  any 
Man  't^in^  himfelf  to  be^a  Prophet,  or  fpiritual,  lef 
him  acknr^zvhdge  that  the  Things- that  I  write  unto 
>''•;  -  -^  Commandment  of  the  Lord  -^  but^fam 

^^       ' -  -.:'::rGnt^^^Iet  hifhBeJgTtorant.     ^ 

And  altho^-thofe  that  kfe  fpiritual  ahibngfttrs, 

have  no  infelKble'Apoftfc  tbadmoniffi  them,  \yet 

r\  ^^  intreat  them,  by  the  Love  of  Christ, 

^'^Myartdumpartialiy -{b  ^veigh  what  may  be  Bid 

to 


I g6  Of  fpirifual  JPnde..  ^         Pa.1\V 

to  tliem,  by  One  that  is  their  hearty  and  fervent 
Friend,  (tW  an  inferiour  Worm)  in  giving  his 
humble  Opinion,  concerning  the  Errors  that  have 
been  committed,  or  that  we  may  be  expofed  to,in 
Methods  or  Pra6lices  that  have  been,  or  may  be 
fallen  into,  by  the  zealous  Friends  or-Promotcrs 
of  this  great  Work  of  God. 

In  fpeaking  of  theErrors  tliat  have  been,  or  that 
we  are  in  Danger  of,.  1  would  in  the  ^-^  ' 

Fir/i  Place,  take  Notice  of  the  Caufes  wberice 
the  Errors  that  attend  a  great  Revival  of  Religion 
^fually  arife  j  and  as  I  go  along,  take  Notice  of 
Ibme  particular  Errors  that  arife  from  each  of 
thofe  Caufes. 

Secondly^  Obferye  feme  Errors,  that  fome  have 
ktely  gone  into,  that  have  b£en  owing  to  the 
Influence  Kjfjfeveral  of  thofe  jCaufes.  conjun^Uy. 

As  to  the  firfl  of  thefev.  the  Errors  that  "at 
•a  greatRevival  of  Religion^  ufiially  arife  from  thefe 
three  Things,     i.  Undifcerned  fpirituaf  Pride. 
2.  Wrong  Principles-     ^  Ig^oxan<;p^iif^5atan^3' 
Advantages  and  Devices.  .*        Iv    ^      "    f  !. 

,^Theiirft,  and  the  worff  Caufe  oj  Errors,  that 
pH-evail  in  fuch  a  State  ofThings,  is  fpirhual Pride. 
This  is  the  main  Door,  by  which  theDevil  comes 
into  the  Hearts  of  thofe  that  are  zealous  for  the 
Advancement  of  Religion.  ''Tia  the  chief  Inlet 
of  Smoke  from  the  bottomlefs  Pit,  to  darken  the 
Mind,  and  miflead  the  Judgn^ent :  This  is  ilwc 
main  Handle  by  which  the  Devil  has  hold  of  re- 
ligious Perfons,  and  the  chief  Scource  of  att  the 
Mifchief  that  he  introduces,  to  clog  and  hipder  a 
T^iTork  of  Go  d  .     This  Caufeof  Error  is  the  main 

Spring, 


Pa. IV.  Of  fpiritual  Pride.  igy^ 

Spring,  or  at  leaft  the  main  Support  of  all  the  reftr 
'Till  this  Difeafe  is  cured,  Medicines  are  in  vain 
applied  to  heal  other  Difeafcs.     'Tis  by  this  that 
"  eMind  defends  it  felf  in  otherErrors,  and  guards 
:'jlf  againft  Light,  by  which  it  might  be  correc- 
.J  and  reclaimed.     The  Ipirituallv  proudMan  is 
rullof  Light  already,  he  don't  needlnftrucliony 
and  is  ready  to  defpife  the  Ofter  of  it.     But  if  this 
Difeafe  be  healed,  otherThings  are  eafily  reftified* 
The  humble  Perfon  is  like  a  little  Chfld,  he  eafily 
-receives  Inftruclion  ;  he  is  Jealous  overhimfelf, 
fenfible  how  liable  he  is  to  go  aftray  ^  aiid  there- 
fore if  it  be  fuggefted  to  him  that  he  does  fo,  he 
is  ready  moft  norrowly  and  impartially  to  enquire. 
Nothing  fets  a  Perfon  fo  much  out  of  the  Devil's 
reach,  as  Humility,  and  fo  prepares  the  Mind  for 
true   divine  Light, .  without  Darknefs,     and  ^o 
clears  the  Eye  to  look  on  Things,  as  they  truly 
are.     Pfal.  25.  g.   The  Meek  will  be  guide  injiidg- 
'Trent ^  aiid  the  Meek  he  will  teach  hisWay.     There- 
fore we  fhould  fight,  neither  with  fmall  nor  with 
gre^t,  but  with  the  King  of  Ifrael :  Our  nrlt  Care 
fhould 'be*  to  rectify  the  Heart,  and  pull  the  Beam 
out  of  our  Eye,  and  then  we  fhall  fee  dearly. 
'  ,\*I  know  that  a. great  many  Things  at  this  Day, 
are  very  injurioufly  laid  to  the  Pride  of  thofe  that 
are.zealoua.  in  the  Caufe  of  God.     When  any 
PcHbn  ap^e^rs,  in  ahyRefpe<ft,  remarkably  diftin- 
guifhed  ia  Rdigion  from  others,  if  he  prcfeflcs 
thbfe  fpiritual  Comforts  and  Joys  that  are  greater 
than  ordinary,,  or  if  he  appears  diftinguifliingly 
zealous  in  Religion,  if  he  exerts  himfelf  more 
'han  other,'^  do,   in  the  Catife  of  Religion,  or  if  he 


198  Of  fphitual  Pridc\  Pa. IV. 

feems  to  be  diflinguifhed  with  Succefs^ten  to  one^ 
but  it  will  immediately  awaken  the  Jealoufy  oi 
thofe  that  are  about  him  ;  ^^^  they'll  fufpe^l, 
(whether  they  have  Caufe  or  no)  that  he  is  very 
proud  of  his  Goodnefs,  and  that  he  afFecSls  to 
have  it  thought  that  no  Body  is-  fo  good  as  he  ; 
and  all  his  Talk  is  heard,  and  all  his  Behaviour^ 
beheld,  with  this  Prejudice.  Thofe  that  are 
themfelves  cold  and  dead,  and  efpecially  fuch  as 
never  had  any  Experience  of  tlie  Power  ofGodli- 
nefs  on  their  own  Hearts,  are  ready  to  entertain 
fuch  Thoughts  of  the  beftChriftians  ;  which  arifes 
from  a  fecretEnmity  againft  vital  &  ferventPiety. 

But  then  thofe  that  are  zealousChriftians  Ihould 
take  heed  that  this  Injurioufnefs  of  thofe  that  are 
cold  in  Religion,  don t  prove  a  Snare  to  them, 
and  the  Devil  don't  take  Advantage  from  it,  to, 
blind  their  Eyes  from  beholding  what  there  is, 
indeed  of  this  Nature  in  theic  Hearts,  and  make 
*em  think,  becaufe  they  are  charged  with  Pride 
wrongfully, and  from  an  illSpirit,  in  many  Things, 
that  therefore  it  is  fo  in  every  Thing.  Alas,  how 
much  Pride  have  the  beft  of  us  in  our  Hearts  ! 
'Trs  the  worft  Part  of  the  Body  of  Sin  and  Death  : 
'Tis  the  firftSin  that  ever  entred into  theUniverfe, 
and  the  laft  that  is  rooted  out  ;  'Tis  God^s  moft 
ftubborn  Enemy ! 

The  Corruption  of  Nature,  may  all  be  refolved 
into  two  Things,  Pride  and  Worldly-mindednefsy 
the  Devil  and  the  Beafl^  or  Self  and  the  World. 
Thefe  are  the  twoPillars  oi  D agones  Temple,  on 
which  the  whole  Houfe  leans.  But  the  former 
of  thefe  is  every  Way,  the  worft  Part  of  the  Cor- 
ruption 


Pa. IV.  Of  fpiritual  Pride.  i99 

•        f  Kature  •   'tis,  the  firft  born  Son  of  tli© 
ruption  of  Nature  ,    u  j^.^p 

Devil, and  his I-^^e  m;heH-^i°f,\i,„er  that 
confifts  in  It  ;  ^is  tl^  aft  1  h.ng  ^,^^^^^ . 

i5  over-born  byConvi£lion,morderr 
and  here  is  thcSauns  hardeftConfl.a      t, 

xt;lSe:vt^^Tth1t^s^^^^^^ 
sts'agift  f \-j^;ranrrfjft 

the  Spirit  of  the  Lamb  of  God  ,  ^n-i    t 
like  the  Devil  its  Father    m  a  ferpentme  Decat 
fulnefs  and  Secrecy  ;  it  hes  f^^P^ft'.^^"f  '  . ^[^ 
aaive,  is  moft  ready  fecretly  to  mix  it  felf  with 

''Tnd'^of'lKindsof  Pride,  fpiritualMeisupo^^ 
many  Accounts  the  moft  hateful  ;  't.s  moft  h.ce 
Se  Devil ;  'tis  moft  like  the  Sin  that  he  commit- 
ted in  an  Heaven  of  Light  and  Glory,  where  he 
was  exalted  high  in  divine  Knowledge,  Honour, 
Beauty  andHappinefs.     Pride  is  much  more  difc- 
cultly  difcerned  than  any  other  Corruption,  for 
that  Reafon,  that  the  Nature  of  it  does  very  much 
confift  in  a  Perfon's  having  too  high  a  Thought  ot 
himfelf  :  but  noWonder  that  he  that  has  too  high 
a  Thought  of  himfelf,   don't  know  it  ;  for  he 
neceflarily  thinks  that  the  Opinion  he  has  of  him- 
felf,  is  what  he  has  juft  Grounds  for,  and  there- 
fore  not  too  high  ;  if  he  thought  fuch  anOpinion 
of  himfelf  was  without  juft  Grounds,  he  would 
therein  ceafe  to  have  it.    But  of  allKinds  of  Pride, 
fpiritual  Pride  is  the  moft  hidden,  and  difficultly 
difcovered  ;    and  that  for  this  Reafon,  Becaufe 
thofe  that  arefpirituallyproud,theirPride  confifii. 
much  in  an  highConceit  of  thofe  twoThings,'y:'z, 
5  Their 


S  Their 


-  ^<^^  Of  fpiritual  Pride.  >     '     Pa. IV 

Tlieir  Lights  and  their  HurnUlty  ;  both  which  are 
aftrong  Prejudice  againft  a  Difcovery  of  their 
Pride.  Being  proud  of  theirZ/;^/;/,that  makes  'em 
not  jealous  of  themfelve.s  ;  he  that  thinks  a  clear 
Light  fhines  around  him,  is  not  fufpicious  of  an 
Enemy  lurking  near  him^unfeen  :  And  then  being 
proud  of  their ///^;;//'%,  that  makes  'em  leaft  of  all 
jealous  of  themfelves  in  that  Particular,  viz,  :2is 
being  under  the  Prevalence  of  Pride.  TJiere  are 
many  Sins  of  the  Heart  that  are  very  fecret  in 
thelrNature,and  difficultly  difcerned.  ThePfalmift 
fays,  Pfal.  19.  12.  Who  can  underj} and  his  Errors? 
Cleanfe  thou  7ne  from  fecret  Faults,  But  fpiritual 
Pride  is  the  molt  fecret  of  all  Sins.  The  Heart  is  ^ 
fo  deceitful  .and  unfearchable  in  nothing  in  the^ 
World,  as  it  is  in  tliis  Matter,  and  there  is  no  Sin 
in  the  World,  that  Men  are  fo  confident  in,  and 
fo  difHcultly  convinced  of:  The  very  Nature  of 
it  is  to  work  Self-Confidence,  and  drive  away 
Self- Diffidence,  and  Jealoufy  of  any  Evil  of  that 
Kind.  There  is  no  Sin  fo  much  like  the  Devil, 
as  this,  for  Secrecy  and  Subtilty,  and  appearing  in 
a  great  many  Shapes,  undifcerned  andunfufpe6led, 
and  appearing  aV  an  Angel  of  Light  :  It  takes 
Occafion  to  arife  from  every  Thing  ;  it  perverts 
and  abufes  every  Thing,  and  even  the  Exercifes 
of  real  Grace,  and  real  Humility,  as  an  Occa- 
fion to  exert  it  felf :  It  is  a  Sin  that  has, as  it  were 
many  Lives  ;  if  you  kill  it,  it  will  live  ftill  ; . 
if  you  mortify  and  fupprefs  it  in  one  Shape,  it 
rifes  in  another  ;  if  you  think  it  is  all  gone,  yet 
it  is  there  ftill :  There  are  a  great  many  Kinds  of 
it,  that  lie  in  diiferent  Forms  and  Shapes,  one 

under 


'a. IV.   Needof^reatJVatchfulnefs^^c.  201 

ider  another,  and  enccmpals  the  Heart  h'kc  the 
;  >ats  of  an  Oi|ion  ;  if  you  pull  off  one  there  is 

other  underneath.  We  had  need  therefore  to 
]..ive  the  greateft  Watch  imaginable,  over  our 
' '^arts,  with  refpect  to  this  Matter,  and  to  cry 

d  earneflly  to  the  great  Searcher  of  Hearts, for 
iiis  help.     He  that  trulls  his  own  Heart  ib  a  Fool. 

God's  own  People  fnould  be  the  more  jealou-^ 
of  themfelves,  with  refpeft  to' this  Particular,  at 
thisDay,  becaufe  the  Temptations  that  many  have 
•to  this  Sin  are  exceeding  great  :  The  great  and 
diftinguifliing  Priviledges  to  which  God  admita 
many  of  his  Saints,  and  the  high  Honours  that  he 
puts  on  fome  Minifters,  are  greatTrialsofPerfons 
in  this  Refpeft.  'Tis  true  that  great  Degrees  of 
the  fpiritual  Prefence  of  God  tends  greatly  to 
mortify  Pride  and  all  Corruption  ;  but  yet,  tho' 
in  die  Experience  of  fuch  Favours  there  be  much 
to  rcftrain  Pride  one  Way, there  is  much  to  tempt 
and  provoke  it  anotlier  ;  and  we  fliall  be  in  great 
Danger  thereby  without  great  Watchfulnefs  and 
Prayerfulnefs.  There  was  much  in  the  Circum- 
ftances  that  the  Angels  tliat  fell,  were  in,  in 
Heaven, in  their  greatHonours  &  highPriviledges, 
in  beholding  the  Face  of  God,  and  View  of  his 
infiniteGIory,to  caufe  in  th^mExercifes  of  Humi- 
lity,and  to  keep  .'em  fromPride  ;  yet  through  want 
of  Watchfulnefs  in  them,  their  great  Honour  and 
heavenly  Priviledge  proved  to  be  to  them,  an  un- 
doing Temptation  to  Pride,  tho'  they  had  no 
Principle  of  Pride  in  their  Hearts  to  expofe  'em. 
Let  no  Saint  therefore,  however  eminent,  and 
however  near  to  God,  thinkhimfelf  outof  Dan- 
'S  2  ser 


202       1'he  Nature,  and  EffeSls      Pa.1V/' 

ger  of  this  :  He  that  thinks  himfelf  moft  out  Q>i 
Danger,  is  indeed  moft  inDanger.  The  Apoftle 
Paul^  who  doubtlefs  was  as  eminent  a  Saint  as^ny 
arenaw.5  was  not  out  of  Danger,  even  juft  after 
he  was  admitted  to  fee  God  in  the  thirdHeavens^ 
by  the  Information  he  himfelf  gives  us,  2  Ccr. 
12.  Chap.  And  yet  doubtlefs,  what  he  faw  m 
Heaven  of  the  ineffable  <5Iory  of  the  divineBeing, 
liad  a  diredt  Tendency  to  make  him  appear  ex- 
ceeding little  and  vile  in  his  own  Eyes. 

Spiritual  Pride  in  its  own  Nature  is  fo'fecret, 
that  it  is  not  fo  well  difberned  by  immediate  In- 
tuition on  the  Thing  it  felf,  as  by  the  Effects  and 
Fruits  of  it  ;  fome  of  which,  I  would  mention, 
''r^ggther  with  the  co«trary  Fruits  of  pureChriftian 
Hiimilit)'. 

'Spiritual  Pride  difpofes  to  fpeak  of  otberPerfons 
>Sins,  their  Enmity  againft  GoD  and  his  People, 
the  mIferableDelufion  of  Hypocrites  and  their  En- 
mity againft  vital  Piety,  and  the  Deadnefs  of  fome 
Saints,  with  Bitternefs,  or  with  Laughter  and 
Levity,  and  an  Air  of  Contempt  ;  whereas  pure 
'Chriftian  Humility  rather  difpofes,  either  to  be 
filant  about  'em,  or  to  Ipeak  df  them  with  Grief 
•and  Pity. 

Spiritual  Pride  is  very  apt  to  fufpeft  others  ; 
whereas  an  humbleSairit  is  moft  jealous  of  himfelf, 
he  is  fo  fufpicious  of  nothing  in  the  World  as  he  is 
-of  his  own  Heart.  The  fpiritually  proud  Perfon 
is  apt  to  find  Fault  with  other  Saints,  that  they 
are  low  in  Grace,  and  to  be  much  in  obferving 
^  how  cold  and  dead  they  be,and  crying  out  of  them 
j  for  it,  and  to  be  quick  to  difcern  and  take  Notice 

of 


PaJV.  of  ffiritual  Pride.  203 

of  their  Deficiences  :  But  the  eminently  humble 
Chriftian  has  fo  much  to  do  at  Home,  and  fees  fo 
much  Evil  in  his  own  Heart,,  and  is  fo  concerned 
about  it,  that  he  is  not  apt  to  be  very  bufy  with 
others  Hearts  ;  he  complains  moft  of  himfelfjand 
cries  out  of  his  own  Coldnefs  and  Lownefs  in 
Grace,  and  is  apt  to  efteem  others  better  than. 
himfelf,and  is  ready  to  hope  that  there  is  no  Body 
but  what  has  more  Love  and  Thankfulnefs  to 
God  than  he,  and  can't  bare  to  tiiink  that  others 
fliouTd  bring  forth  no  more  Fruit  to  God's  Ho- 
nour than  he.  Some  that  have  fpiritua]Pride  mixVl 
■  with  high  Difcoveries  and  greatTranfports  of  Joy, 
that  difpofe  'em  in  an  earneft  Manner  to^talk  to 
others,  are  apt,  in  fuch  Frames,  to  be  calling 
upon  other  Chriftians  that  are  about  them,  2.YiA 
fharply  reproving  them  for  their  being  (o  cold  and 
li'felefs.  And  there  are  fome  others  that  behave 
themfelves  very  differently  from  thefe,  who  ii 
their  Raptures  are  over-whelmed  vnth  a  Senfe  oi 
their  own  Vilenefs  ;  and  when  they  have  extra- 
ordinaryDifcoveries  of  God *s  Glory, are  all  takeii 
up  about  their  own  Sinfulnefs  ;  and  tho'  they  alfo 
are  difpofed  to  fpeak  much  and  very  earneftly,  vet 
it  is  very  much  in  Crj'ing  out  of  themfelves,  and 
exhorting  Fellow  Chriftians,  but  in  a  charitable 
and  humble  Manner.  Pure  Chriftian  Humility 
difpofes  a  Perfon  to  take  Notice  of  every  Thing 
that  is  in  any  Refpeft  good  in  others,  and  to  make 
the  beft  of  it,  and  to  diminifh  their  Failings  ;  but 
to  have  his  Eye  chiefly  on  thofe  Things  that  are 
bad  in  himfelf,  and  to  take  much  Notice  of  every 
Thing  that  aggravates  them. 

S  3  ^« 


204  0/  }>arjh  X3  terrible  Language  Pa.IV. 

In  a  Contrariety  to  this,  it  has  been  the  Man- 
ner in  fome  Places,  or  at  leaft  the  Manner  of 
feme  Perfons,  to  fpeak  of  almoft  every  Thing 
that  they  fee  amife  in  others,  in  the  moft  harfh, 
fevere  and  terrible  Languge.  'Tis  frequent  with 
them  to  fay  of  others  Opinions  or  Conduct 
or  Advice,  or  of  their  Coldnefs,  their  Silence, 
tteir  Caution,  their  Moderation,  and  their  Pru- 
dence^and  many  otherThings  that  appear  in  them, 
that  they  are  from  the  Devil,  or  from  Hell ;  4:hat 
ilich  a  Thing  is  devilifh  or  hellifh  or  curfed,  and 
that  fuch  Perfons  are  ferving  the  Devil  or  the 
Devil  is  in  them,  that  they  are  Soul-Murtherers 
and  the  like  5  fo  that  the  Words  Devil  ^nA  Hell 
^re  aJmoft  continually  in  their  Mouths.  And 
fuch  Kind  of  Language  they  will  commonly  ufe, 
Jiot  only  towards  wicked  Men,  but  towards  them 
that  they  themfelves  allow  to  be  the  true  Children 
of  Goi>,  and  alfo  towards  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel 
and  others  that  are  very  much  their  Superi- 
ours.  And  they  look  upon  it  a  Vertue  and  high 
Attainment  thus  to  behave  themfelves.  Oh^  fay 
they,  we  muji  he  "plain  hearted  and  hold  for  Chriji^ 
five  muJi  declare  War  againft  Sin  wherever  we  fee 
it,  w^  muJi  not  mince  the  Matter  in  the  Caufe  of 
Cod  and  whsnf peaking  for  Chriji,  And  to  make 
^y  Diftindtioh  in  Perfons,  or  to  fpeak  the  more 
tenderly,  becaufe  that  which  is  amifs  is  feen  in  a 
Superiour,  they  look  upon  as  very  mean  for  a 
Follower  of  Chaist  when  (peaking  in  the  Caufe 
;  <oi  his  Mafter. 

\      What  a  ftrangeDevke  of  the  Devil  is  here,  to 
\  vv^r-throwallChrifWanMeeknefe  and  Gcntlenefs, 

^id 


[P^.IV.  among  Chrijlians,  205 

[and  even  all  Shew  and  Appearance  of  it,  and  to 
defile  the  Mouths  of  the  Children  of  God,  and  to 
'introduce  the  Language  of  comilfionSailors  among 
the  Followers  of  Christ,  under  a  Cloak  of  high 
Sandity  and  Zeal  and  Boldnefs  forCniRsT  ! 
-And  it  is  a  remarkaWe  Inftance  of  the  Weaknefs 
of  the  human  Mind,  and  how  much  too  cunning 
the  Devil  is  for  us   ! 

The  grand  Defence  of  this  Way  of  Talking  is, 
that  they  fay  no  more  than  what  is  true;  they  only 
fpeak  the  Truth  without  mincing  the  Matter  ; 
and  that  true  Chriftians  that  have  a  great  Sight  of 
tlie  Evil  of  Sin,  and  Acquaintance  with  their  own 
Hearts  know  it  to  be  true,  and  therefore  won't 
be  offended  to  hear  fuch  harfh  Expreffions  made 
Ufe  of  concerning  them  and  their  Sins  ;  'tis  only 
(fay  they)Hypocrites,or  cold  and  dead  Chriftians, 
that  are  provoked  and  feel  tlieir  Enmity  rife  on 
fuch  an  Occafion. 

But  'tis  a  grand  Miftake  to  think  that  we  may 
commonly  ufe  concerning  one  another  all  fuch 
Language  as  reprefents  tbe  worft  of  each  other, 
according  to  ftri<a  Truth.  'Tis  really  true,that 
every  Kind  of  Sin, &  every  Degree  of  it,  is  devilifh 
and  from  Hell,  and  is  curfed,  hellifh,  and  con- 
<lemned  or  damned  :  And  if  Pcrfons  had  a  full 
•Sight  of  their  Hearts  they  would  think  no  Terms 
too  bad  for  them  ;  they  would  look  like  Beafts, 
like  Serpents  and  likeDevils  to  themfelves  ;  they 
would  be  at  a  lofs  for  Language  to  exprefs  what 
they  fee  in  themfelves, the  worftTerms  tliey  could 
think  of  would  feem  as  it  were  faint  to  reprefent 
^■hat  tliey  iee  in  themfdvcs.    But  fiiall  a  Child 

^thoreforc 


2o6  RoughLanguage amongChriJiians.  P.IV. 

therefore,  from  Time  to  Time,  ufe  fuch  Lan- 
guage concerning  an  excellent  &  eminently  holy 
Father  or  Mother,  as  that  the  Devil  is  in  them, 
that  they  have  fuch  and  fuch  devilifh,  curfed  Dif- 
pofitions,  that  they  commit  every  Day  Hundreds  ' 
of  hellifb,  damn'd  AcSls,  and  that  they  are  curfed 
Dogs,  Hell-Hounds  and  Devils  ?  And  fhall  the 
meaneftofthe  People  be  juftified,  in  commonly 
ufmg  fuch  Language  concerning  the  moft  excel- 
lentMagiftrates,or  their  moft  eminent  Minifters  ? 
I  hope  no  Body  has  gone  to  this  Height :  but  the 
fame  Pretences  of  Boldnefs,  Plain-heartednefs, 
and  declared  War  againft  Sin,  v^ill  as  w'ell  juftify 
thefe  Things  as  the  Things  they  are  aftually  made 
Ufe  of  to  juftify.  If  we  proceed  in  fuch  a  Man- 
ner, on  fuch  Principles  as  thefe,  what  a  Face  will 
be  introduced  upon  the  Church  of  Christ,  the 
little  beloved  Flock  of  that  gentle  Shepherd  the 
Lamb  of  God  ?  What  a  Sound  fhall  we  bring 
into  the  Houfe  of  God,  into  the  Family  of  his 
dear  little  Children  ?  How  far  off  fhall  we  foon 
banifh  that  lovely  Appearance  of  Humility,  Sweet- 
nefs,  Gentlenefs,  mutual  Honour,  Benevolence, 
Complacence^  and  an  Efteem  of  others  above 
themfelves,  which  ought  to  clothe  the  Children 
of  Go  D  all  over  ?  Not  but  thatChriftians  fhould 
watch  over  one  another,  and  in  any  wife  reprove 
one  another,  and  be  much  in  it  and  do  it  plainly 
and  faithfully  j  but  it  don't  thence  follow  that 
•dear  Brethren  in  the  Family  of  God,  in  rebuk- 
ing one  another,  fhould  ufe  worfe  Language  than 
Michael  the  Arch-angQl  durft  ufc  when  rebuking 
{Ji^D^vUhijufelf.  ^ 

Chriffians 


I  Pa.  IV.         Of  harfi  Repmnng.         20  7 

•Chriftians  that  are  but  Fellow-Worms  ought 
atleaft  to  treat  one  another  with  as  muchHumihty 
andGentlenefs  as  Christ  that  is  infinitely  above 
-them  treats  them.  But  how  did  Christ  t;eat 
Ws  Difcipks  when  they  v/ere  fo  cold  towards  him 
and  {o  regardlefsofhim,  at  the  Time  when  his 
Soul  was  exceeding  forrowful  ev-en  unto  Death, 
and  be  in  a  difmalAgony  was  crying  and  Iweating 
Blood  for  them,  and  they  would  not  watch  with 
him  and  allow  him  theGoinfort  of  their  Company 
one  Hour  in  his  great  Diftrefs,  tho'  he  once  and 
again  defired  it  of  them  :  One  would  think  that 
then  was  a  proper  Time  if  ever  to  haive  reproved 
'em  for  a  devilifh,  helHfh,  curfed  and  damned 
Slothfulnefs  and  Deadnefs.  But  after  what  Man- 
ner does  Christ  reprove  them  ?  Behold  his 
aftonifliing  Gentlene-fs  !  Says  he,  W^at^  could  ye 
not  watch  with  me  one  Hour  ?  The  Spirit  indeed  is 
willing^but  theFleJh  is  weak.  And  how  did  hetreat 
Peter  when  he  w^as  afliamed  of  his  Mafter,  while 
he  was  made  aMocking-Stock  and  aSpitting-Stock 
for  him  ?  Why  lie  looked  upon  him  with  a  Look 
of  Lfove,  and  melted  his  Heart. 

And  tho'  we  read  that  Christ  once //^r?7^<^ 
and  faid  unto  Peter,  on  a  certain  Occafion,  get 
thee  behind  me  Satan  \  and  this  may  feem  like  an 
Inftance  of  Harflmefs  and  Severity  in  reproving 
Peter 'y  yet  I  humbly  conceive  that  this  is  by  many 
taken  wrong,  and  that  this  is  indeed  no  Inftance 
of  Christ's  Severity  in  his  Treatment  of  P^f^r, 
but  on  the  contrary,  of  his  wonderful  Gentlenefs 
and  Grace,  diftinguifhing  between  Peter  and  the 
-Devil  in  him^  not  laying  the  Blame  of  whatP^/^r 

.       had 


2o8       Effe^is  of  fpiritual  Pride.       Pa, IV. 

had  then  faid,  or  imputing  it  to  him,  but  to  the 
Devil  that  infiueneed  him.  Christ  faw  the 
Devil  then  prefent5fecretly  influencing  Peter  to  do 
the  Part  of  a  Tempter  to  his  Mafter  ;  and  there- 
fore Christ  turned  him  about  toPeter^  in  whorn^ 
the  Devil  then  was,  and  fpake  to  the  Devil, 
and  rebuked  him.  Thus  the  Grace  of  Christ 
don't  behold  Iniquity  in  his  People,  imputes  not 
what  is  amifs  in  'em  to  them, but  toSin  that  dwells 
in  them,  and^to  Satan  that  influences  them. 
But  to  return, 
Spiritual  Pride  often  difpofesPerfons  to  Singula- 
rity in  external  Appearance,  to  afFedl  a  fingular 
Way  ofSpeaking,to  ufe  a  different  Sort  of  Dialed 
from  others,  or  to  be  fmgular  in  Voice,  or  Air  of 
Countenance  or  Behaviour  :  but  he  that  is  an 
emfnently  humble  Chriftian,  tho'  he  will  be  firm 
to  his  Duty,  however  Angular  he  is  in  it ;  he'll  go 
in  the  Way  that  leads  to  Heaven  alone,  tho'  all 
the  World  forfakes  hin| ;  yet  he  delights  not  in 
Singularity  for  Singularity's  Sake,  he  don't  affcdt 
to  fet  up  himfelf  to  be  viewed  and  obferved  as  one 
diftinguifhed,  as  defiring  to  be  accounted  better 
than  others,  or  difpifing  their  Company,  or  an 
Union  and  Conformity  to  them  ;  but  on  the  con- 
trary is  difpofed  to  become  allThings  to  all  Men, 
and  to  yield  to  others,  and  conform  to  them  and 
pleafe  'em,  in  every  Thing  but  Sin.  Spiritual 
Pride  commonly  occafions  a  certain  Stiffnefs  and 
Inflexibility  in  Perfons,  in  their  own  Judgment 
and  their  own  Ways  ;  whereas  the  eminently 
humble  Perfon,  tho'  he  be  inflexible  in  his  Duty, 
and  in  tliofe  Things  wherein*  God's  Honour  is 

concerned  ; 


Pa.IV.       Effe5is  offpiritual  Pride,       209 

concerned;  and  with  Regard  to  Temptation  to 
thofe  Things  he  apprehends  to  be  finful,  tho'  in 
never  fo  fmall  aDegree,  he  is  not  at  all  of  a  yield- 
ableSpiritj  but  is  like  aBrazen  Wall  ;  yet  in  other 
Things  he  is  of  a  pliable  Difpofition,  not  difpofed 
to  fet  up  his  own  Opinion,  or  his  own  Will  ;  he 
is  ready  to  pay  Deference  to  others  OpinionSjand 
loves  to  comply  with  their  Inclinations,  and  has  a 
Heart  that  is  tender  and  flexible, like  ahttle  Child. 
Spiritual  Pride  difpofes  Perfons  to  afFecSl  Sepa- 
ration5to  ftand  at  aDiftance  from  others, as  better 
than  they,  and  loves  the  Shew  and  Appearance  of 

■  theDiftin61:ion  :  But  on  the  contrary  the  eminently 

■  humble  Chriftian  is  ready  to  look  upon  himfelf  as 
not  worthy  that  others  (hould  be  united  to  him, 
to  think  himfelf  more  bruitifh  than  any  Man,  and 
worthy  to  be  caft  out  of  human  Society,  and  ef- 
pecially  unworthy  of  the  Society  of  God*s  Chil- 
dren ;  and  tho'  he  will  not  be  a  Companion  with 
one  that  is  vifibly  Christ's  Enemy ^nd  delights 

'  moft  in  the  Company  of  lively  Chriftians,   will 
choofe  fuch  for  his  Companions,  and  will  be  moft 
intimate  with  them,&  don't  at  all  delight  to  fpend 
away  much  Time  in  the  Company  of  thofe  that 
feem  to  relifh  no  Converfation  but  about  worldlv 
Things  5  yet  he  don't  love  the  Appearance  of  an 
open  Separation  from  vifible  Chriftians,    as  "being 
a  Kind  of  diftindl  Company  from  them,   that  are 
.e  vifible  Company  with  him  by  CHRis.T.Ap- 
nntment,  and  will  as  much  as  poflible  fliun  all 
)ppearaiK:esofaSupfcriarity,ordiffinguifhing.him- 
iclf  as  better  than,  others  :  His  univerfal  Benevo- 
lence delists  in -the  Appearance  of  Union  with 

his 


2  lo       Pure  Chrljiian  Humility.       Pa.  IV. 

his  fellow  Creatures,  and  will  maintain  it  as  much, 
as  he  pofliblycan,    without  giving  open  Counte- 
nance tolniquity,  or  wounding  his  own  Sou] ;  and 
herein  he  follows  theExample  of  his  meek  &  lowly 
Redeemer,who  did  not  keep  up  fucha  Separation 
and  Diftance  as  the  Pharifees,  but  freclA-  eat  witKj 
Publicans  and  Sinners,  that  he  might  win  them.    ' 
The  eminently  humble  Chrifihn  is  as  it  were 
cloathed  with  Lowlinefs,  Mildnefs,  Meekncfs, 
Gentlenefs  of  Spirit  andBehaviour,  &  with  a  foft, 
fweet,  condefcending,  winning  Air  and   Deport- 
ment ;  thefeThings  are  juft  like-Garments  to  him, 
he  is  cloathed  all  over  with  them;,     i   Pet.  5.  5. 
And  be  cloathed  with  Humility.     Col.  3.  12.   Put 
071  therefore^  as   the  ek^  ofGod^  holy  and  beloved^ 
Bow  eh  of  Mercies^  Kindnefsy  Humbkncf:  of  Miiid^  - 
Mecknefs-,  Long-fufering. 

Pure  Chriftian  Humility  has  no  fuch  Thing  as 
RoughnefejOrContemptjOrFiercenefs^orBitternefs 
in  its  Nature  ;  it  makes  aPerfon  likeahttleChild^ 
harmlefs  and  innocent,  and  that  none  need  to  be 
afraid  of;  or  like  a  Lamb,  deftitute  of  all  Bitter- 
nef?,  Wrath,  Anger  and  Qamour,  agreeable  ta 
Efh  4.  31. 

With  fuch  a  Spirit  as  this  ought  efpecially  zeal- 
ous Minifters  of  the  Gofpel  to  be  cloathed,  and 
thofe  that  God  is  pleafed  to  improve  as  Inftru- 
ments  in  hisHands  of  promoting  his  Work :  thqy 
ought  indeed  to  be  thorough  in  preaching  the 
Word  of  God,  without  mincing  the  Matter  at 
.all  ',  in  handling  the  Sword  of  the  Spirit,  as  the 
Minifters  of  the  Lord  of  Hofts,  they  ought  not  to 
be  mild  and^entlei  they  are  iK>t  tobe  gende  and 

moderate 


Pa. IV.  T'be  hnpp^  hfMCnce  of  Humility.  21  i 

moderate  In  fearching  &  awakening  theConfciencc 
but  fhould  be  Sons  of  Thunder  :  The  Word  of 
God ,which  is  in  it  felf  fharper  than  any  two-edged 
Sword,  ought  not  to  be  (heathed  by  its  Minifters, 
but  fo  ufed^that  its  fliarpEdges  may  have  their  full 
EfFe6l,  even  to  the  dividing  afunder  Soul  and 
Spirit,  Joints  and  Marrow  ;  (provided  they  do  it 
without  judging  particular  Perfons,  leaving  it  to 
Confcience  and  the  Spirit  of  God  to  make  the 
particular  Application  ; )  But  all  their  Conver- 
fation  fliould  favour  of  nothing  but  Lowlinefs  and 
goodwill,  Love  and  Pi  t}^  to  all  Mankind  ;  fo 
that  fuch  a  Spirit  fhould  be  like  a  fweet  Odour 
diffufed  around  *em  wherever  they  go,  or  like  ,a 
Light  (hining  about  'em,  their  Faces  fhould  as  it 
were  fhine  with  it ;  they  fhould  be  like  Lions  to 
guilty  Confciences,  but  like  Lambs  to  Men's 
Perfons.  This  would  have  no  Tendency  to  pre^ 
vent  the  Awakening  of  Men's  Confciences,  but 
on  the  contrary  would  have  a  very  greatTendency 
to  awaken  them  ;  it  would  make  Way  for  the 
fharp  Sword  to  enter  ;  it  would  remove  the  Ob- 
ftacles,  and  make  a  naked  Breafl  for  the  Arrow. 
.Yea  the  amiable,  Chrifl-like  Converfation  of  fuch 
Miniflers,in  it  felf  would  terrify  die  Confciences 
of  Men,  as  well  as  their  terrible  Preaching  ;  both 
would  co-operate  one  with  another, to  fubdue  the 
hard,  and  bring  down  the  proud  Heart.  If  there 
had  been,  conflantly  and  univerfally  obfervable 
fuch  a  Behaviour  as  this  in  Itinerant  Preachers,  it 
would  have  terrified  the  Confciences  of  Sinners, 
ten  T^es  as  much  as  all  the  Inve6lives,  and  the 
cenfojTOuS  Talk  there  has  been  concerning  parti- 
T  cukr 


1 

z  1 2    Effe^s  of  Pride  and  Humility^  Pa. IV.  "^^ 

cukr  Perfons,  for  their  Oppofition,  Hypocrify, 

Delufion,  Pharifaifm,  &c. Thefe  Things  m 

general  have  rather  ftupified  SinnersConfciences  ; 
they  take  'em  up,  andmakeUfe  of  'em  as  aShield, 
wherewith  to  defend  themfeh^es  from  the  fharp 
Arrows  of  the  Word,  that  are  fhot  by  thefe  Prea- 
chers :  The  Enemies  of  the  prefent  Work  Jiave 
been  glad  of  thefe  Things  with  all  their  Hearts. 
Many  of  the  moft  bitter  of  them  are  probably  fuch 
23  in  the  Beginning  of  this  Work  had  their  Conf- 
ciences  fomething  gauled  &  terrified  with  it ;  but 
thefcErrors  of  awakeningPreachers  are  theThings 
they  chiefly  make  Ufe  of  as  Plailiers  to  heal  the 
Sore  that  was  made  in  their  Confciences. 

Spiritual  Pride  takes  greatNotice  of  Oppofition 
and  Injuries  that  are  received, and  is  apt  to  be  often  . 
fpeaking  of  them,  and  to  be  much  in  takingNoticc 
of  the  Aggravations  of 'em,  either  with  an  Air  ef 
Bitternefs  orContempt :  Whereas- pure,  unmixed 
Chriftian  Humility,  difpofes  a  Perfon  rather  to  be 
like  his  bleffedLord,when  reviled,dumb,_  not  open- 
ins;  his  Mouth,  but  committing  himfelf  in  Silence 
to'him  that  judgeth  righteoufly.  The  emineiuly 
humble  Chriftian,  the  more  clamorous  and  furious 
the  World  is  againft  him,  the  more  filent  aud  ftill 
will  he  be  ;  udefs  it  be  in  his  Clofet,  and  there  lie 
will  not  be  ftill.  Our  bleffcd  Lord  Jefus  feems 
r.ever  to  have  been  fo  filent,  as  when  the  World 
compafled  him  round,  reproaching,buff'etting  and 
fpitting  on  him,  with  loud  and  virulent  Out-cries, 
and  horrid  Cruelties.  '^  , 

There  has  been  a  great  deal  toqinuGh^Xalk  ot 
late,  among  many  of  tlie  trucjaAd  ze4^u&  Ffiends 

of 


I^.IV.     Meeknefs  the  furejl  Way,  i^c.     213 

of  Rdigioiijabcut  Oppofition  and  Perfecution  It 
becomes  theFollowers  of  the  Lamb  of  GoD5when 
the  World  is  in  an  Uproar -about  them,  and  full 
of  Clamour  againft  them,  not  to  raife  another 
Noife  to  anfwer  it,  but  to  beftill  and  quiet :  'Tis 
not  bea\itiful,  at  fuch  a  Time-,  to  have  Pulpits  and 
Converfation  ring  with  the  found,  Perfecution^ 
Perfecution^QX  withabundantTalk  aboutPharifecs, 
ca^-nal  Perfecutors,  and  the  Seed  of  the  Serpent. 

Meeknefs  and  Qiiietnefs  among  Go D'sPeople, 
when  oppofed  &  reviled, would  be  the  fureftWay 
to  have  God  remarkably  to  appear  for  their  De- 
fence. *Tis  particularly  obferved  of  Alofes,  on 
the  Occafion  of  Aarcii  and  Miriam  their  envying 
him,&  rifmg  up  inOppofition  againft  him5tliat  he 
zuas  very  meek,  above  all  Men  upon  the  Face  of  ihs 
Earth,  Num.  12.  3.  Doubtlefs  becaufe  he  re- 
markably ihewM  his  Meeknefs  on  thatOccalion, 
being  wholly  filent  under  the  Abufe.  And  how 
remarkable  is  the  Account  that  follows  of  God's 
being  as  it  wer^  fuddenly  roufed  to  appear  for  his 
Vindication  ?  And  what  high  Honour  did  he 
put  upon  Mofes  P  And  how  fevere  were  his  Re- 
bukes of  his  Oppofers  ?  The  Story  is  very  re- 
markable,and  worth  everj^One's  obferving.  No- 
thing is  fo  eiFectual  to  bring  God  down  from 
Heaven  in  the  Defence  of  his  People,  as  their  Pa- 
tience and  Meeknefs  under  Sufferings.  When 
Christ  girds  his  Sword  upon  his  Thigh,  with  his 
Glory  andMajefly,  and  in  his  Majefiy  rides  pro fper- 
oufly^his  rightHand  teaching  him  terrihleThings,it  i: 
bccatife  of  Truth  i^MEEKNE'^S  ^Righteoufyjefs. 
Pfal.  4  5.3,4.  God imllcaufejudgmm  iQ  he  heard 
T  2  from 


214  Vehemence  in  the  Caufe  of  God.  Pa.  IV. 

from  Heaven  ;  the  Earth  /hall  fear  and  hejilll^  and 
God  will  arlfe  tojudgment^to  fave  all  theA^EEK  of 
the  Earth.  Pfal.76.8,9.   He  will  lift  up  theM^ck^ 
andcaj}  theJVi  eked  down  to  theGround.   Pfal.i47.6> 
He  ivill  reprove  zvith  Equity^  for  the  Meek  of  the 
Earth,  andwillfmiie  the  Earth  tvith  the  Rod  of  his 
Mouthy  ajid  ivith  the  Breath  of  his  Lips  will  he  fay 
the  Tf^icked.  Ifai.  11.  4.     The  great  Commenda- 
tion thatCn  R I  s  T  gives  theChurch  of  Philadelphia^ 
is  that,    Thm  ha/i  kept  the  Word  of  my  Patience^ 
Rev.  3.  10.  And  we  may  fee  what  Reward  he 
promifes  her,  in  the  preceeding  V^rfe,  B-ehold^  1 
will  make  them -of  the  Synagogue  of  &atan^    which 
fay  they  arejews  and  an  not^  hut  do  lie  \    behold^  I 
zvillmake  them  to  come  andworji.ip  at  thy  Feet^  and 
to  know  that  I  have  loved' thee.     And  thus  it  is,  that 
we  might  expedl  to  have  Christ  appear  for  us, 
if  under  allReproches  we  are  loaded  with,  we  be- 
haved ourfelves  with  a  Lamb-like  Meeknefs  and 
Gentlecefs  ;  but  if  our  Spirits  are  raifed,  and  we 
are  vehement  and  noify  with  our  Complaints  un- 
der Colour  of  Chriftian  Zeal,  this  will  be  to  take 
upon  us  our  own  Defence,  and  God  will  leave  it 
with  us,  to  vindicate  ourCaufeas  well  as  we  can  : 
Yea  if  we  go  on  in  a  Way  of  Bitternefs,  and  high 
Cenfuring,  it  will  be  the  Way  to  have  him  rebuke 
us,  and  put  us  to  Shame  before  our  Enemies. 

Here  fome  may  be  ready  to  fay,  *'  'Tis  not  in 
eur  own  Caufe,  that  we  are  thus  vehement,  but 
it  is  in  theCaufe  of  God  ;  and  theApcftle  direfted 
the  primitive  Chriftians  to  conj^end  earneftly  for 
the  Faith  once  delivered  to  theSaints."  But  how 
was  it  that  the  primitive  Chriftians  contended 

earneftly 


Pa. IV.    An  humble  Improvement^  ^c    215 

earneftly  for  theFaith  ?  They  defended  thcTrutli 
with  Arguments  5  and  a  holyConverfation  ;  but  yet 
gave  theirReafons  with  Meeknefs  &  Fear  :  They 
contended  earneftly  for  theFaith,  by  fighting  vio- 
lently againft  their'ownUnbelief,  and  the  Corruj^- 
tions  of  their  Hearts,  yea  they  refifted  unto  BIo^ 
ftriving  againft  Sin  ;  but  the  Blood  that  v/as  fbef?: 
in  this  earneft  Strife,  was  their  own  Blood,  acd 
not  the  Blood  of  their  Enemies.  It  was  in  ihc 
Caufe  qfGod^.  that  P^/^r  was  fo  fierce,  and  dfew 
his  Sword,and  began  to  fmite  with  it  j  but  Ghrift 
bich  him  put  up  his  Sword  again,  teKing  him  that 
they  that  take  theSwordfhallperifh  by. theS word  ; 
and  while  P^/cT  wounds,  Christ  heais.  Thev 
contend  the  moft  violently,  and  are  the  greatefi 
Conquerors  in  aTime  of  Perfecution,  who  bear  it 
with  the  greatefi  Meeknefs  and  Patienci?* 

Great  Humility  .improves  even  the  Reflections 
and  Reproaches  of  Enemies,  to  put  upon  ferioiis 
Self-Examination,  whether  or  no  tkere  be  not 
fome  juft  Caufe,  whether  they  han'^t.in  fomeRe- 
fpe(51:  given  Occafion  to  the  Enemy  to  fpeak  r^e- 
proachfully  :  Whereas  f]^iritual  Pride  improve?; 
iuch  Refle£lions  to  make  'em  tlue  mor^  bold  and 
confident,  and  to  go  the  greater -Leiigths  in^ha^t 
for  which  they  ai;e  found  fault  with/  I  defire  it 
may  be  confider'd  whether  there  has  been  iiothixig 
amifs  of  late,  among  the  trueFriends  of  yital  Piety 
in  thi^RefpecSt  \  and  whether  the  Words  of  Z>^L7^, 
when  re^^iled  by  M'lchal^  han't  been  mif-inter^p- 
ted  and  mifapplied  to  juftify  them  m  it,  when  he 
faid  I  will  be  yet  more  vile,  and  .will  be  bafe  iii 
mine  own  Sight.  ThelrnpoU:  of  his  Words  i- 
T  3  thtU 


'^  10  Of  the  Fear  of  Ma-n,         Pa.IV. 

that  he  would  humble  himfelf  yet  more  before 
God,  being  fenfible  that  he  was  far  from  being 
fufficientlyabafed  j  and  he  fignifies  this  toiW/V^^/, 
Hnd  thai  he  longed  to  be  yet  lower,  and  had  de- 
figned  already  to  abafe  himfelf  more  in  his  Beha- 
Tiour  :  nat  that  he  would  go  the  greater  Length, 
TO  fiiew  his  Regardlefnefs  of  her  Revilings  ;  that 
"Would  be  to  exalt  himfelf,  and  not  more  to  abafe 
himfelf,  as  more  vile  in  his  own  Sight. 

Another  Effeft  of  fpiritualPride  is  a  certain  un- 
fuitable  and  felf-confident  Boldnefs  before  God 
and  Men.  Thus  fome  in  their  great  Rejoicings 
before  God,  han't  paid  a  fufficient  Regard  to  that 
Rule,  in  PfaL  i.  ii.  They  han't  rejoiced  with 
a  reverential  Trembling,  in  a  proper  Senfe  of  the 
awful  Majefty  of  God,  and  the  awful  Diftance 
betweenGoD  and  them.  And  there  has  alfo  been 
an  improper  Boldnefs  before  Men,  that  has  been 
-encouraged  &  defended  jbjraMifapplication  of  that 
Scripture,  Prov.  29.  i^\'The  Fear  of  Mmihr'ingeth 
*a  Snare.  As  tho'  it  became  all  Perfons,  high  and 
3dw,Men,Women&Children5in  all  religiousGon- 
verfatloh,  wholly  to  diveft  themfelves  of  all  Man- 
ner of  Shamefacednefs,  Modefty  orReverence  to- 
wards Man  ;  which  is  a  great  Error,  and  quite 
contrary  to  Scripture.  There  is  a  Fear  of  Rever- 
^ence  that  is  due  to  fomeMen.  Rom.  1 3.7.  Fear^ 
to  whom  Fear  \  Honour^  to  whom  Honour,  And 
there  is  a  Fear  of  Modefty  and  Shamefacednefs,in 
Jiifcriours  towardsSuperiours,  that  is  amiable,and 
requked  by  Chriftian  Rules,  i  Pet.  3.2.  While 
they  iehold  your  chajie  Cofwerfation^  coupled  with 
Fmr.    An4  i  Tm-.  2r  9,  Jn  lih  Mc^m^r  alfi^ 

that 


Pa  .  IV ,  Of  the  Fear  "of  Man.         217 

that  IVomen  adorn  themfelves^  in  modeji  Afpard^ 
with  Shamefacednefs  andSohriety,  And  theApoftle 
means  that  this  Vertue  {hall  have  Place,  not  on!y 
in  civilCommunication^but  alfo  in  fpiritualCom- 
tnunication,  and  in  our  religious  Concerns  and 
Behaviour,  as  is  evident  by  what  follov^rs.  Ver. 
II,  12.  Let  the  IVomen  learn  in  Silence^  with  all 
SubjeSficn.  But  I  fnffer  mt  a  Woman  to  teach ^nor 
to  ufurp  Authority  over  theMan^  hut  to  he  inSilence, 
Not  that  I  would  hence  infer  that  Women's 
Mouths  fhould  be  fhut  up  from  Chriftian  Conver- 
fation  ;  but  all  that  I  mean  from  it  at  this  Time 
is,  that  Modefty,  or  Shamefacednefs,  and  Rever- 
ence towards  Men,  ought  to  have  fome  Place, 
even  in  our  religious  Communication  one  with 
another.  The  fame  is  alfo  evident  by  i  Pet.  3, 
15.  Be  ready  always  to  give  an  An  fiver  ^  to  every 
Man  that  afketh  youa  Reafon  of  the  Mope  that  is  in 
you ^withMeeknefs  ondFear.  ^Tis  well  if  that-very 
3**ear  and  Shamefacednefs,  which  the  Apoftle  re- 
commends, han't  fometimes  been  condemned^ 
under  the  Name  of  a  curfed  Fear  of  Man. 

'Tis  beautiful  for  Perfons  when  they  are  at 
Prayer  as  theMouth  of  others,  to  makeGoD  only 
their  Fear  and  their  Dread,  and  to  be  wholly  for- 
getful of  Men  that  are  prefent,  who  let'em  be 
great  orfmall,  are  nothing  in  the  Prefence  of  the 
great  Goi>.  And  'tis  beautiful  fof  a  Minifteri> 
when  he  fpeaksin  the  Name  of  theLord  of  Hofts, 
to  be  bold, and  put  ofFall  Fear  of  Men.  And  'tis 
beautiful  in  private  Chriftians,  tho'  they  are 
Women  and  Children,  to  be  bold  in  profeffing  the 

F^uh  Qf  Christ,  wd  w  tteftafti^e  vf  all  Re- 


2i8  Of  an  affuming  Air.  Pa.  IV. 

ligion,  and  in  owning  God's  Hand  in  the  Work 
of  hisPower  andGrace, without  any  Fear  of  Men, 
tho'  they  fhduld  be  reproached  as  Fools  andMad- 
men,  and  frowned  upon  by  great  Men,  and  caft 
ofFby  Parents  &  all  the  World.  But  for  private 
Chriftians, Women  and  others5to  inftru£l,rebuke 
and  exhort,  with  a  like  Sort  of  Boldnefs  as  be- 
comes aMinifler  when  preaching,  is  not  beautiful. 

Some  have  been  bold  in  fome  Things  that 
have  really  beenErrors  ;  and  have  gloried  m  their 
Boldnefs  in  praftifing  them,  tho'  cried  out  of  as 
odd  and  irregular.  And  thofe  that  have  gone  th^ 
greateft  Lengths  in  thefe  Tilings,  have  been  by 
fome  moft  highly  efteemed,  as  thofe  that  come 
out,  and  appear  bold  for  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
and  fully  on  his  Side  ;  and  others  that  have  pro- 
fefs'd  to  te  godly,  that  have  condemned  fuch 
Things,  have  been  fpoken  of  as  Enemies  of  the 
Crofe  of  Chris  T ,  or  at  leaft  very  cold  and.  dead  ; 
and  many  that  of  themfelves,  were  not  inclined 
to  fuch  Practices,  have  by  this  Means  been  dri- 
ven on,  being  afhani'd  to  be  behind,  and  account- 
ed poor  Soldiers  for  Christ. 

Another  EfFeft  of  fpiritual  Pride  is  AJfumhig  : 
It  oftentimes  makes  it  natural  to  Perfons  fo  to 
aft  and  fpeak,  as  tho'  jt  in  a  fpecigj. Manner  be- 
long'd  to  them  to  be  taken  Notice  of  and  much 
regarded.  It  is  very  natural  toaPerfon  that  is 
much  under  the  Influence  of  fpiritual  Pride,  to 
take  all  that  Refped  that  is  paid  him  :  li  others 
fkewa  Difpofition  to  fubmit-to  him,  and  yield 
him  the  Deference  of  a  Preceptor,  he  is  open  to 
it.  and  freely  admits  it  \  yea,  'tis  natural  for  him 
'  to 


P A .  IV.         Of  an  affuming  Air.  2 1 9 

to  exped  fuch  Treatment,  and  to  take  much  No- 
tice of  it  if  he  fails  of  it,  and  to  have  an  ill  Opi- 
nion of  others  that  don't  pay  him  that  which  he 
looks  upon  as  his  Prerogative  :  He  is  apt  to  think 
that  it  belongs  to  him  to  ipeak,  and  to  clothe  him- 
felf  with  a  judicial  and  dogmatical  Air  in  Conver- 
fation,  and  to  take  it  upon  him  as  what  belongs  to 
him,  to  give  forth  his  Sentence,  and  td  determine 
and  decide:   Whereas  pure  Chriftian  Humility 
vaunteth  not  it  felf  ^  doth  not  behave  it  felf  unfeemly^ 
and  is  apt  to  prefer  others  in  Honour.     One  under 
tJie  Influence  of  fpiritual  Pride  is  more  apt  to  in- 
ftrud  others,  than  to  enquire  for  himfelf,  and  na- 
turally puts  on  the  Airs  of  a  Matter  :  Whereas 
one  that  is  full  of  pure  Humility,  naturally  has  on 
the  Air  of  aDifciple  i  his  Voice  is,  ^'  Whatfhall 
I  do  ?  What  fhafi  I  d6  that  I  may  live  more  to 
God  *s  Honour  ?  What  fhall  I  do  with  this  wicked 
Heart  ? "     He  is  ready  to  receive  Ififtruftion  from 
any  Body,  agreable  to  Jam.  i.    19.   Wherefore^ 
my  beloved  Brethren^  let  every  Man  he  fwift  to  hear^ 
flow  tofpeak.     The  eminently  humble  Chriftian 
thinks  he  wants  Help  from  every  Body,  whereas 
he  that  is  fpiritually  proud  thinks  that  every  Body 
wants  his  Help.  Chriftian  Humility,  under  a  Senfe 
of  others  Mifery,  intreats  and  befeeches  ;  fpiri- 
tual  Pride  aiFeds  to  command,   and  warn  with 
Authority. 

There  ought  to  be  the  utmoft  Watchfulnefs 
againft  all  fuch  Appearances  of  fpiritual  Pride,  in 
all  that  profefs  to  have  been  the  Subje<5ls  of  this 
Work,  and  efpecially  in  the  Promoters  of  it,  but 
above  all  in  Itinerant  Preachers  :  The  moft  emi- 
nent 


2  2  o         Minijlers  Jhould  avoid        Pa  .  IV. 

nent  Gifts,  and  higheft  Tokens  of  God's  Favour 
and  Blefling,  will  not  excufe  them  :  Alas  !  What 
is  Man  at  his  beft  Eftate  !  What  is  the  moft  high- 
ly favoured  Chriftian,  or  the  moft  eminent  and 
fuccefsful  Minifter,  that  he  fhould  now  tlnnk  he 
is  fufficient  for  fomething,  and  fome-body  to  be 
regarded,  and  that  he  fhould  go  forth,  and  aft 
among  his  Fellovi^  Creatures,  as  if  he  were  wife 
and  ftrong  and  good  ! 

Minifters  that  have  been  the  principal  Inilru- 
ments  of  carrying  on  this  glorious  Revival  of  Re- 
ligion, and  that  God  has  made  Ufe  of,  as  it  were 
to  bring  up  his  People  out  of  Egypt^  as  he  did  of 
Mofes^  fhould  take  Heed  that  they  don't  provoke 
God  as  Mofes  did,  by  aflumingtoo  much  to  them- 
felves,  and  by  their  intemperate  Zeal^  to  fhut 
them  out  from  feeing  the  good  Things  that  God 
is  going  to  do  for  his  Church  in  this  W#rld.  The 
Fruits  of  Mofes^s  Unbelief,  which  provoked  Goi> 
to  fhut  him  out  of  Canaan^  and  not  to  fufFer  hitn 
to  partake  of  thofe  great  Things  God  was  about 
to  do  for  Ifrael  on  Earth,  were  chiefly  thefe  two 
Things  ;  Firjt^  His  mingling  Bitternefs  with  his 
Zeal :  he  had  a  great  Zeal  for  God,  and  he  could 
not  bear  to  fee  the  intolerable  StifF-neckednefs  of 
the  People,  that  they  did  not  acknowledge  the 
Work  of  God,  and  were  not  convinced  by  all  his 
Wonders  that  they  had  feen  :  But  human  Paffion 
was  mingled  with  his  Zeal.  PfaL  io6*  32,  33. 
They  angred  him  alfo  at  the  Waters  of  Strife ;  fo 
that  it  went  ill  with  Mofes  for  their  Sakes :  Be- 
caufe  they  provoked  his  Spirit^  fo  that  he  fpake  un- 
advifedly  with  bis  Lips.     Hear  now  ye  Rebels^  fays 

he. 


Pa.  IV.        an  ajfuming  Behaviour.        2  2 1 

he,  with  Bitternefs  of  Language.     St'ccmJIy^   He 
behaved  himfelf,  and  fpakewith  an  a{rumiiip;Air  : 
He  alTumedtoo  much  to  himfelf;   Hear  now  ye 
Rebels,  rnuft  JVE  fetch  Water  out  of  this  Reck  ? 
Spiritual  Pride  wrought  in  Mofes  at  that  Time  : 
His  Temptations  to  it  were  very  great,  for  he  hud 
had  great  Difcoveries  of  God,  and  had  been  pri- 
viledged  with  intimate  and  fweet  Communion 
withliim,  ?nd  God   had  made  him  the  Inftru- 
ment  of  great  Good  to  his  Church  ;  and  tho'  he 
was  fo  humble  a  Perfon,   and,  by  God's  own 
Teftimony,meek  above  allMen  upon  the  Face  of 
the  whole  Earth,  yet  his  Temptations  wxre  too 
ftrpng  for  him  :  Which  furely  fhould  make  our 
young  Minifters,  that  have  of  late  been  highly 
favoured,  andhave  had  great  Succefs,  exceeding 
careful,  and  diftruftful  of  themfelves.  Alas  !  how 
far  are  we  from  havino;  the  Streng;th  of  holy, 
meek,  aged  Mofes  !  The  Temptation  at  this  Day 
\%  exceeding  great,  to  both  thofe  Errors  that  Mo- 
fes  was  guilty  of ;  there  is  great  Temptation  to 
Bitternefs  and  corrupt  Paflion  with  Zeal  5    for 
there  is  fo  much  unreafonable  Oppolition  made 
againft  this  glorious  Work  of  God,  and  fo  much 
StifF-neckednefs  manifefted  in  Multitudes  of  this 
Generation,  notwithftanding  all  the  great  &  won- 
derful Works  in  which  God  has  pafled  before 
them,  that  it  greatly  tends  to  provoke  the  Spirits 
of  fuch  as  have  the  InterejR:  of  this  Work  at  Heart, 
f6  as  to  move  'em  to  fpeak  unadvifedly  with  their 
Lips.     And  there  is  alfo  great  Temptation  to  an 
afluming  Behaviour  in  fome  Perfons :  When  a 
Minifter  is  greatly  fucceded,£i:om  Time  to  Time, 

and 


2  22  Minifiers  Temptations  to  cijjumifjg.  P.IV.* 

and  fo  draws  the  Eyes  of  the  Alultitude  upon  him, 
and  he  fees  himfelf  flocked  after,  and  reforted  to 
as  an  Oracle,  and  People  are  ready  to  adore  him, 
and  to  OiFer  Sacrifice  to  him,  as  it  was  with  Paul 
and  Barnabas^  ?xLyJira^  it  is  almoft  impoflible  for 
a  Man  to  avoid  taking  upon  him  the  Airs  of  a 
Mafter,  or  fome  extraordinary  Perfon  ;  a  Klan 
had  Need  to  have  a  great  Stock  of  Humility,  and 
much  divine  Afliftance,  to  refift  the  Temptation. 
But  the  greater  our  Dangers  are,  the  more  ought 
to  be  our  Watchfulnefs  h  Prayerfujnefs,  and  Dif- 
fidence of  our  felves,  left  we  bring  our  felves  into 
Mifchief.  Fifhermen  that  have  been  very  fuc- 
ccfsful,  and  have  caught  a  great  many  Fifli,  had 
Need  to  be  careful  that  they  don't  at  Length  begin 
to  burn  Incenfe  to  their  Net.  And  we  fhould 
take  Warning  by  Gideon^  who  after  God  had 
highly  favoured  and  exalted  him,  and  mad^  him 
the  Inftrument  of  working  a  wonderful  Delive- 
rance for  his  People,  at  Length  made  a  God  of 
the  Spoils  of  his  Enemies,  which  became  a  Snare 
to  him  and  to  his  Houfe,  fo  as  to  prove  the  Ruin 
of  his  Family. 

All  young  Minifter?  in  this  Daf  of  the  Ijringing 
up  the  Ark  ofGOD^  fhould  take  Warnit^g  by 
the  Example  of  a  young  Lev'ite  in  Ifrael^  viz. 
lj%%a  the  Son  of  Abimdah.  He  feem'd  to  have  a 
real  Concern  for  the  Ark  of  GOD,  and  to  be 
zealous  and  engaged  in  his  Mind,  on  that  joyful 
Occafion  of  bringing  up  the  Ark,  and  GOD  made 
him  an  Inftrument  to  bring  the  Ark  out  of  its  long 
continued  Obfcurity  in  Kirjath-jearim^  &  he  was 
fucceeded  to  bring  it  a  coafiderable  Way  towards 

Mount 


Pa  .  IV.      Of  the  Example  of  Uzza.      223 

Mount  Zian  j  but  for  hisWant  of  Humility, Revc- 
!  fence  and  Circumfpeaion,  and  afTuming  to  him- 
:   felf,  or  taking  too  much  upon  him,  God  brolcQ 
forth  upon  him,  and  fmote  him  for  his  Error,,  fo 
that  he  never  Hved  to.  fee,  and  partake  of  the  great 
Joy  of  his  Church,  on  Occafion  of  the  carrying 
up  the  Ark  into  Mount  Zion,  and  the  great  Blcl- 
fings  of  Heaven  upon  Jfrael^  that  were  confc- 
quent  upon  it.     Minifters  that  have  been  iijv 
proved  to  carry  on  this  Work  have  been  chiefly 
of  the  younger  Sort,  v^^ho  have  doubtkf*,  (as  Uzza 
had,)  a  real  Concern  for  the  Ark  ;  and  'tis  evi- 
dent that  they  are  much  animated  and  engaged  hi 
^  their  Minds,  (as  he  was)  in  this  joyful  Day  ot 
;   bringing  up  the  Ark  ;  and  they  are  afraid  wliat 
will  become  of  theArk  under  theConduft  of  itsMi- 
nifters,  (that  are  fometirnes  in  Scripture  compared 
to  Oxen  ;)   They  fee  the  Ark  (hakes,  and  they 
are  afraid  thefe  blundering  Oxen  will  throw  it ; 
and  fome  of  'em  it  is  to  be  fear'd,  have  been  over 
officious  on  this  Occafion,  and  have  affumed  too 
much  to  themfelves,  and  have  been  bold  to  put 
forth  dfcir  Hand  to  take  hold  of  the  Ark,  as  tho' 
they^jMp  the  only  fit  and  worthy  Perfons  to  de- 
fend HP 

If  young  Minifters  had  gi*eat  Humility,  with- 
out a  Mixture,  it  would  difpofe  'em  efpecially  to 
treat  aged  Minifters  with  Refpect  and  Reverence, 
as  their  Fathers,  notwithftanding;  that  a  fovereim 
God  may  have  given  them  greater  Afliftance  and 
Succefs,  than  they  have  had.  i  Pet.  5.  5.  Like- 
wife  ye  younger y  fubmit  your  f elves  unto  the  elddr  ; 
yea  all  of  you^  be  fubje^  one  to  another  }  and  be 


2  2  4       "I'reatnient  of  carnal  Men.      Pa  . YV. 

dot  bed  with  Rutntlky  \  ^for  God  rejtjfefh  the  'P^ottd^ 
rad  giveth  Grace  to  the  Humble.  Lev.'  i'i)':-'^^:'Thou 
jhalt  rife  up  before  the  hoary  H^ad.  a*id  honhvr  the 
Face  of  the  old  Man^  and  fear  ih  GOD  \  I  am 
the  LORD. 

As  fpiritual  Pride  difpofes  Perfons  to  affiime 
much  to  themfelves,  fo  it  alfo  difpofes  'em  to  treat 
others  with  Negle6t :  On  the  contrary,  pure, 
Chriftian  Humility  difpofes  Perfons  to  honour  all 
Men,  agreeable  to  that  Rule,  i  Pet.  2.  17. 

There  has  been  in  fome,  that  I  believe  are  true 
Friends  of  Religion,  too  much  of  an  Appearance 
©f  this  Fruit  of  fpiritual  Pride,  in  their  Treatment 
of  thofe  that  they  looked  upon  to  be  carnal  Men  ; 
and  particularly  in  refufmg  to  enter  into  any  Dlf- 
V  ourfe  or  Re^ifoning  with  them.     Indeed  to  fpend 
a  great  deal  of  Time  in  Jangling  and  warm  De- 
bates about  Religion,  is  not  the  Way  to  propa- 
gate Religion,  but  to  hinder  it  ;  and  fome  are  fo 
tireadfully  fet  againft  this  Work,  that  it  is  a  difmal 
'  afk  to  dispute  with  them,  all  that  one  can  fay  is 
tterly  in  vain,  I  have  found  it  fo  by  Experic:" - 
nd  to  go  to  enter  into  Difputes  about  J^:-_ 
u  fome  Times,  is  quite  unfeafonable,  ^^Bte^^^ 
.arly  in  Meetings  for  religious  ConfereWe 
Exercifes  of  ^\'orfhip.     But  yet  we  ought  to  be 
very  careful  that  we  don't  refufe  to  difcourfe  witH 
\  Icw^  with  any  Appearance  of  a  fupercilious  Neg- 
.61,  as  tho'  we  counted  'em  not  A-orthy  to  be  re- 
:arJed  ;  on  the  contrary  we  fhould  condefcehd  fp. 
arnal  Men,  as  Christ  has  condefcended  W W 
-o  bear  with  our  Unteachablencfs  and  Stupidity, 
:ad  ftill  to  follow  us  with  Inftn:(3^ou^^  Xihe\i^on 

Line, 


P  A .  1 V .      Ireaimcnt  of  carnal  Men.      2 1 5 

i.aie,  and.  Precept  upon  Precept,  faying.  Come 
let  us  reafon  together  ;  fctting  Light  before  us^ 
and  ufmg  all  Manner  of  Arguments  with  us,  and 
waiting  upon  fuchdull  Scholars.,  as  it  were  hoping 
that  we  fhould  receive  Light.  We  Ihould  be  ready 
with  Mecknefs  and  Calmnefs,  without  hot  difpu- 
ting,  to  give  our  Reafons,  why  we  think  this 
Work  is  the  Work  of  GoD^to  carnal  Men  when 
they  afk  us,  and  not  turn  them  by  as  not  worthy 
to  be  talk'd  with  ;  as  the  Apoftle  direaed  the  pri- 
mitive Chriftians  to  be  ready  to  give  a  Reafon  of 
the  Chriftian  Faith  and  Hope  to  the  Enemies  01 
Chriftian^ity,  i  Pet.  3.  15.'  Beready  always  to ghe 
Oft  Anfwerto  every  Man  that  asketh  you  a  Reajou  of 
the  Hope  that  is  in  you,  with  Mecknefs  and  Fear. 
And  we  oaight  not  to  condemn  all  Reafoning  about 
Things  of 'Reiigion  und«r  the  Name  of  carnal 
Reafon.  For  my  Part,  I  defir^e  no  better  than  that 
thoic  that  oppofe  this  Work,  fliould  come  fairly 
to  fubmit  to  have  the  Caufe  betwixt  us  tried  by 
ftriiSl  Reafoning.  .\0*..:^- 

\  One  Qualification  that  the  Scripture  Fp^aks  of 
once  and  again,  as  requifite  hia  Minifter  is,  that 
he  fhould  h^Sii^^ru^  apt  to  teach^  j  Tim.  3.  2,. 
And  the  Apoftle  feems  to  explain  what  he  means 
by  it,  in  a  Tim,  2.  24,  25.  Or  at  leaft  there  ex- 
■prefies  one  Thing  he  intends  by  it,  viz.  That  a 
Minifter  fhould  be  ready,  meekly  -to  condefcend 
to,  and  linftruft  Oppofer s.  jlnd  the  Servant  of. the 
Lordmuji  ndtjirive^  hut  hegentk  unto  all  Men^  apt 
to  teach  ^  patient^  in  Meeknefs  injiru^ing  thofe  that 
oppofe  themfelves^  if  Godper adventure  will  give  them 
Repentam^i^  tnJhe  acknowledging  of  thg  Truth* 
V  2 


^20       IfHpreffions  and  Impulfes.       Pa  .  I V". 

^  5VcT;^y  Another  Thing  from  whence  Errors 
Ml  Condua,  that  attend  fuch  a  Revival  of  Rdigi^ 
Oil,  (jo  anfe,  is  wr^,/^  Principles. 

And  one  erroneous  Principle,  than  which  fcarce 
-^.ny  has  proved  more  mifchievous  to  the  prefent 
glorious  Work  of  God,  is  a  Notion  that  >tis 
^OD  s  Manner,  now  in  thefe  Davs,  to  guide  his 
-aim-s,  at  leaftfome  that  are  more  eminent,  br 
infpiration,  or  immediate  Revelation,  and  to  make 
itnown  to  'em  what  fhall  come  to  pafs  hereafter, 
or  what  It  is  his  Will  that  they  fhould  do,  by  Im- 
preffions  that  he  by  his  Spirit  makes  upon  their 
Mmds,  either  with,  or  without  Texts  of  Scrip- 
ture y  whereby  fcmething  is  made  known  to  them^ 
that  IS  not  taught  in  the  Scripture  as  t-he  Words 
lie  m  the  Bible.     By  fuch  a  Notion  the  Devil  has 
a  great  Door  opened  for  him  ;  and  if  once  this 
Opinion  ihouJd  come  to  be  fuUy  yielded  to,  and 
cftablifhed  in  the  Church  of  God,  Satan  would 
have  Opportunity  thereby  to  fet  up  himfelf  as  the 
Guide  and  Oracle  of  God's  People,  &  to  have  A/x 
Word  regarded  as  their  iRfallibleRule,&  foto  lead 
'em  where  he  would,  &to  introduce  what  he  pleas'd, 
and  foon  to  bring  the  Bible  into  Njegleft  and  Con- 
tempt : — Late  Experience  in  fome  Inftances,  has 
fhown  that  the  Tendency  of  this  Notion  is  to  caufc 
Pcrfons  to  efteem  the  Bible  as  a  Book  that  is  in  a 
great  Meafr.re  ufelefs. 

This  Error  will  defend  and  f^ipport  all  Errors.^ 
As  long  as  a  Perfon  has  a  Notion  that  he  is  guided 
by  immediate  Diredion  from  Heaven,  it  makes 
him  incorrigible  and  impregnable  in  all  his  Mif- 
condu£l :  For  what  fignifies  it,  for  poor  blind 
Worms  of  the  Duft,  to  go  to  argue  with  a  Man, 


Pa.  IV.      Imprcfjlons  and  hnpulfes.       22y 

and  endeavour  to  convince  him  and  correct  him, 
that  is  guided  by  the  immediate  Counfels  &  Com- 
mands of  the  great  JEHOVAH  ? 

This  2:-reat  Werk  of  God  has  been  exceedingly 
hi ndercd^by  this  Error  ;  and  'till  v^-e  have  .quite 
taken  this  Handle  out  of  the  Devil's  Hands,  the 
Work  of  GOD  will  never  go  on  v^rithout  grer.^ 
Clogs  &  Hindrances.  But  Satan  will  always  have 
a  vaft  Advantage  in  his  Hands  againft  It,  and^  z^ 
he  has  improved  it  hitherto,  fo  he  will  do  ftill  : 
And  'tis  evident  that  the  Devil  knows  the  vaft  Ad 
vantage  he  has  by  it,  that  makes  him  exceeding  loth 
to  let  go  his  Hold. 

'Tis  ftrange  v/hat  a  Difpofition  there  is  in  many 
well  difpofed  and  religious  Perfons,  to  fall  in  with 
and  hold  faft  this  Notion.  'Tis  enough  to  2fk>- 
nilh  one  that  fuch  multiplied,  plain  Inftartces  o: 
the  failing  of  fuch  fuppofed  Revelations,  in  th  ^ 
Event,  don't  open  every  oce's  Eyes.  I  have  fecn 
fo  many  Inflances  of  the  failing  of  fuch  IinprejTi- 
ons,  that  would  almofl  fiirnifh  an  Hiftory  :  J  haiT 
been  acquainted  wkhthem  when  made  under  <1\ 
•Kinds  of  Circumftances,  and  have  feen  'em  feil 
in  the  Event,  when  made  with  fuch  Circumfta:!- 
ces  as  have  been  faireft  and  brighteft,  and  mcfl 
fromifmg  ;  as  when  they  have  been  made  upc  p. 
the  Minds  of  fuch,  as  there  was  all  E.ea{bn  x-^ 
think  were  true  Sabts,  yea  eminent  Saints, -;»j:  J 
at  the  very  Time  when  they  have  had  great  divine 
Difcoveries,  arid  have  been  Ln  the  high  Exercifc 
of  true  Comraunion  v/ith  GOD,  andinade  with 
rgreat  Strength^  and  wi^h  great  Swee.taefs  accGm- 
•jauying, -and  J  hare  'bad  Reulbn  to  .think,  wJ:ii' 
Y  2  ^n 


..28        ImfreJlJions  and Impulfeh     ,  Pa.I\\ 

an  excellent  heavenly  Frame  of  Spirit,  yet  con- 
tinued, and  made  with  Texts  of  Scripture,  that 
feem'd  to  be  exceeding  appofite,  yea  many  Texts 
■following  one  another,  extraordinarily  and  won- 
derfully bro't-to  the  Mind,  and  v/ith  great  Power 
and  Majefty,  and  the  Impreffions  repeated  over 
and  o\''er,  after  Prayers  to  be  direiled  ;  and  yet 
all  has  moft  manifeftly  come  to  nothing,  to  the 
full  Conviilion  of  the  Perfons  themfelves.     And 
GOD  has  in  lb  many  Inftances  of  late  in  his  Pro- 
vidence, covered  luch  Things  with  Darknefs,that 
-one  would  think  it  fhould  be  enough  quite  to  blank 
the  Expe6lations  of  fuch  as  have  been  ready  to 
think  highly  of  fuch  Things  ;  it  feems  to  be  a 
Teftimony  of  GOD,  that  he  has  no  Defign  of 
reviving  Revelations  in  his  Church,  and  a  Rebuke 
from  him  to  the  groundlefs  Expe6lations  of  it. 
It  feems  to  me  that  That  Scripture,  Zech.  13. 
,  is  a  Prophecy  concerning  Minifters  of  the 
Gofpel,  in  the  latter,  &  glorious  Day  of  the  Chri- 
iHan  Church,  v;hich  is  evidently  fpoken  of  in  this 
and  the  foregoing  Chapters ;  The  Words  are,  / 
! -im  no  Prophet  'j  I  am  an  Hushandrnan  :  For  Man 
-Light  me  to  keep  Cattle  from  my  Youth.  The  Words, 
.apprehend,  are  to  be  interpreted  in  a  fpiritual 
'cnfe;  I  am  m  Hushand?nan  :  The  Work  of  Mi- 
tillers  is  very  often  in  the  Ncw-Teftament,  com- 
pared to  the  Bufinefs  of  the  Huibandman,  that 
take  Car.-  of  GOD's  Hufbandry,  to  whom"  he  lets 
out  his  Vineyard,  and  fends  '^ern  forth  to  labour 
Inhis  Field,  where  oneplants  and  another  waters , 
on^  fows  and  another  reaps;  fo  Minifters  are 
Srallaa  LabQur-^rs  in  GOD'5  Harvcft*     And  as  it 


Pa  AW       Immediate  Revelations.         229 

is  added,  Man  taught  me  to  keep  Cattle  from  my 
Youth.  So  the  Work  of  a  Minifter  is  very  often 
in  Scripture  reprefented  by  the  Bufinefs  of  a  Shep- 
herd or  Paftor.  And  whereas  it  is  faid,  /  amjio 
Prophet  ;  but  Man  taught  me  fro?n  my  Youth.  'Tis 
as  much  as  to  fay,  I  don't  pretend  to  have  received 
my  Skill,  w^hereby  I  am  fitted  for  the  .Bufinefs  of 
a  Paftor  or  Shepherd  in  the  Church  of  GOD,  by 
immediate  Infpiration,  but  by  Education,  by  be- 
ing trainM  up  to  the  Bufinefs  by  human  Learning, 
and  Inftru£lions  I  have  received  from  my  Youth 
or  Childhood,  by  ordinary  Means. 

And  why  can't  we  be  contented  with  the  divine 
Oracles,  that  holy,  pure  Word  of  GOD,  that  we 
have  in  fuch  Abundance,  ^nd  fuch  Clearnefs,  now 
fmcethe  Canon  of  Scripture  is  compleated  ?  Why 
fliould  we  defire  to  have  anj^Thing  added  to  them 
by  Impulfes  from  above  ?  Why  fhould  not  wt; 
reft  in  that  ftanding  Rule  that  GOD  has  given  to 
his  Church,  which  the  Apoftle  teaches  us  is  furer 
than  a  Voice  from  Heaven  ?  And  why  fhould  we 
defire  to  make  the  Scripture  fpeakmore  to  us  than 
it  does  ?  Or  why  fliould  any  defire  any  higher 
Kindof  Intercourfe  with  Heaven,  than  that  which 
is  by  having  the  holy  Spirit  given  in  his  fandlifying 
Influences,  infufmg  and  exciting  Graceand  Holi- 
nefs.  Love  and  Joy,  which  is  the  higheft  Kind  of 
Intercourfe  that  the  Saints  and  Angels  in  Heaven 
have  with  GOD,  and  the  chief  Excellenc)^ of  the 
glorified  Man  Christ  Jesus  ? 

Some  that  follow  Impulfes  and  Impreffions  go 
away  with  a  Notion  that  they  do  no  other  than 
feliw  the  Guidance  pf  GOD's  Wprd,  ^nd  make 

the 


"z^o  ImpreffwnswithTe^ts  of  Scripture.  P.IV. 

the  Scripture  their  Rule,  becaufe  tlie  ImprefGon 
is  made  with  a  Text  of  Scripture,,  that  comes  to 
their  Mind,  tho'they  take  that  Text  as  it  is  im- 
prefied  on  their  Minds,  an^insprove  it  ns  a  new 
Revelation,  to  all  Intents  and  Purpofes,  or  as  the 
Revelation  of  a  particular  Thing,  that  is  now 
newly  made,  while  the  Text  in  it  felf,  as  it  is  in 
the  Bible,  implies  no  fuch  Thing,  and  they  them- 
felves  donot  fuppofe  that  any  fucli  Revelation -was 
contained  m  it  before.  As  for  Inftance,  fupp©fe 
that  Text  fhould  comeintoa  Perfon's  Mind  v/ith 
llrong  Impreffion,.  j^Sf.  9.  6.  Arife^  and  go  into 
-the  City  ;  end  it  (hall  be  told  thee  what  thou  ?nu/i  do. 
And  be  fhould  interpret  it  as  an  immediate  Signi- 
fication of  the  Will  of  GOD,  that  he  fhould  now^' 
forthwith  go  to  fuch  a^Neighbour  Town,  and  as 
a  Revelation  of  that  future  Event,  vi2^  That  there 
he^fhould  ^meet  with  a  further  Difcovery  of  his 
Duty.  If  ilich  Things  as  thefe  are  revealed  by  the 
Imprefiion  of  thefe  Words,  'tis  to  all  Intents,  a 
jiew  Rcvelation,not  the  iefs  becaufeKrertain  Words 
of  Scripture  are  made  Ufe  of  in  the  Cafe  :  Here 
are  Propofitions  or  Truths  entirely  n^w,  that  are 
fuppofed  now  to  be  revealed,  that  thefe  Words  do 
not  contain  in  themfelves,  and  that  'till  now  there 
was  no  Revelation  of  any  where  to  be  found  in 
Heaven  or  Earth.  Thefe  Propofitions,  That 'tis 
GOD'5  Mind  and  Will  that  fuch  a  Perfon  by 
Name^  fhould  arife  at  fuch  a  Time,  and  go  from 
fuch  a  Place  to  fuch  a  Place,  and  that  tliere  he 
fhould  meet  v/ith  Difcoverief^  are  entirely  new 
Propofitions,  wholly  different  from  the  Propofiti- 
ons contain'd  in  that  Text  of  Scri^tufe,  no  more 

con- 


Pa  .  I V .       'Tke  leading  of  the  Spirit.       1 3 1 

contain'djOr  confequeiitially  implied  in  theWord^ 
themfclves,  without  a  new  Revelatiqn,  than  it  is 
implied  that  he  fhould  arife  and  go  to  any  other 
Place,  or  that  any  other  Perfon  {hould  arife  and  go 
to  that  Place.     The  Propofitions  fuppofed  to  fee 
now  revealed,   are  as  really  different  from  thofe 
contained  in  that  Scripture,   as  they  are  from  the 
Propofitions  contained  in  that  Text,  Gen»  5.  6.  And 
Seth  lived  an  hundred  and fii>e  Years  ^  Gf  begat  Enos. 
This  is  quite  a  different  Thing  from  the  Spirit^s 
enlightening  the  Mind  to  underftand  the  Precepts 
©r  Propofitions  of  the  Word  of  GOD,  and  know 
what  is  contained  and  revealed  in  them,  and  what 
Gonfequcnces  may  }uiHy  be  drawn  from  them,  and 
lo  fee  how  they  are  applicable  to  our  Cafe  and  Cir- 
cumftaftces ;  which  is  done  without  any  new  Re- 
velatiofi,  iOniy  by  enabling  the  Mind  to  underftand 
and  apply  a  Revelation  already  made. 
•  '^  Thofe  Texts  of  Scripture  that  fpeak  of  the  Chil- 
dren of  GOD  as  led  by  the  Spirit y  have  been  by 
feme,  brought  to  defend  a  being  guided  by  fuch 
Impulfes  ;  a^  particularly,  thofe  Rom.  8.  14.  For 
as  many  as  art  led  hy  the  Spirit  of  God,  they  are  the 
Sons 9f  God:  And  Gal.  5.  18.  Butifyeareledby 
the  Spirit,  ye  are  not  under  the  Law.     But  thefb 
Texts  themfelv^es  confute  them  that  bring  them  ; 
for  'tis  evident  that  the  leading  of  the  Spirit  that 
the  Apoftle  fpeaks  of  is  a  gracious  Leading,  or 
what  is  peculiar  to  tl>e  Children  of  GOD^  &  that 
natural  Men  cannot  have  ;  for  he  fpeaks  of  it  as  a 
fure  Evidence  of  their  being  the  Sons  of  GOD, 
and  not  under  the  Law  :  But  a  leading  or  direfting 
a  Perfon,  by. immediately  revealing  to  him  where 

he 


232  U(nv  the  Saints  are         Va.  IV. 

he  fhould  go,  or  what  ihall  hereafter  come  to  pafs,' 
or  what  fhall  be  the  future  Confequence  of  his  do- 
ing thus  or  thus,  if  there  be  any  fuch  Thing  in 
thefe  Days,  is  r^pt  of  the  Nature  of  the  gracious 
leading  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  that  is  pecuhar  to 
God '§  Children  ;  'tis  no  more  than  a  commor\ 
Gift ;  there  is  nothing  in  it  but  what  natural  Mea 
are  capable  of,  and  many  of  them  have  had  in  the 
Days  of  Infpiration  :  A  Man  may  have  ten  Thou- 
iand  fuch  Revelations  and  Direftions  from  the  Spi- 
^.t  of  Go  D ,  and  yet  not  have  a  Jot  of  Grace  in  his 
Heart ;  'Tis  no  more  than  the  Gift  of  Prophecy, 
which  ioimediately  reveals  what  will  be,  or  fliouW 
be  hereafter  ^  but  this  is  but  a  common  -Gift,  as 
the  Apoftie  exprefly  ibews,  i  C^.  13.  2,..8v  If 
.JP^rfon  has  aoyXhing  revcakd  to^him  from  Gia^t. 
or  is  direfted  to  anyThing,  by  a  Voice  from.He^T 
ven,  or  a  Whifper,  or  Words  immfidiat^ly  fujg^ 
gefted  and  put  into  his  Miiid,  there  is  notmiit  of 
tbe  Nature  of  Grace,  meeriy'in  this  ;  *tisofthe 
Nature  of  a  common  Influence  of  the  Spirit,  9^ 
n  but  Diois  and  Dung,  in  Comparifon  erf"  the  Ex- 
^llency  of  that  gracious  leading  of  the  Spirit  that 
the  Saints  have-  Such  a  Way  of  being  directed 
•wiiere  one  fball  go,  and  what  he  Ihall  do^  is  no 
rtiox^  thau  what  Balaam  had  from  God,  who  from 
Time  to  Time  revealed  to  him  what  he  fhould  do, 
and  when  he  had  done  one  Thing,  then  direfted; 
him  what  he  fhould  do  next ;  fo  that  he  was  in 
this  Senfe  led  by  the  Spirit,  for  a  confideraWe 
Time.  There  is  a  more  excellent  Way  that  the 
Spirit  of  God  leads  the  Sons  of  God ^  that  natural 
Men  canaothave,  and  that  is,  by  inclining  them 

to 


Pa.  IV.  led  hy  the  v\ 

to  do  the  Will  of  God,  and  go  ui  d.. 
Path  of  Truth   and   Chriftian  Holinefs, 
an  holy   heavenly  Difpofition,    which  the   >.:-:- 
rit  of  God  gives  them,  &  enlivens  in  them  \7hich 
inclines  'enT,  and  leads  'em  to  thofe  Things  that 
are  excellent,  &  agreable  to  God's  Mind,  where- 
by they  are  transformed^  hy  the  roicwing-  rf  their 
ATtnds^  and  prove  what  is  that  good,  and  acceptable. 
Gild  per fea  1^:11  of  God,  as  in  Rom.    I2.  2.     And 
fo  the  Spitit  of  God  does  in  a  gracious  Manner 
teach  the  Saints  their  Duty  ;  and  teaches  'em  in 
an'  higher  Manner  than  ever  Balaa?n,  or  Saul,  or 
Judas  were  taught,  or  any  natural  Man  is  capable 
of  while  fuch.  The  Spirit  of  God  enlightens  'em 
\vith  Refpeft  to  their  Duty,  by  making  their  Eye 
fmgle  and  pure,  whereby  the  whole  Body  is  full  of 
Light,     The  fanclifying  Influence  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  re6lifies  the  Tafte  of  the  Soul,  whereby  it 
favours  thofe  Things  that  are  of  GOD,  and  natu- 
rally relifhes  and  delights  in  thofe  Things  that  are 
holy  and  agreeable  to  GOD's  Mind, and  like  one 
of  a  diftinguifhing  Tafte,  chufes  thofe  Things  that 
are  good  and  wholefom,  and  reje6ls  thofe  Things 
that  ^re  evil;  for  the  fan6lified  Ear  tries  Words, 
and  the  fanSified  Heart  tries  Actions, as  the  Mouth 
taftes^Meat. .    And  thus  the  Spirit  of  GOD  leads 
^"nd  giiides  the  Meek  in  his  Way,  agreeable  to  his 
Promifes .;  he  enables  them  to  underftand  theCom- 
irjands  and  Counfels  of  his  Word,  and  rightly  to 
apply  them.     Ch,RTst  blames  the  Pharifees  that 
they  had  not  this  holy  diftinguifliing  Tafte,  to  dif- 
cern  and  diftinguifli  what  was  right  and  wrong. 
^uk,  12.  57;  Tea^  and  why,  even  of  your  own  f elves, 
judge  ye  not  what  is  right  9  The 


2  34         ^Jf'^ance  of  the  Spirit         Pa.  IV. :, 

The  leadingof  the  Spirit  which  God  gives  hi-sj 
Children,  which  is  pecuh'ar  to  thcm^  is  that  teach-  ' 
ing  them  his  Statutes,  and  caidlng  them  to  undqr- 
ftand  the  Way  of  his  Precepts,  which  the  Pfalmift 
fo  very  often  prays  for,  efpecially  in  the  119th 
Pfalm  ;  and  not  in  giving  of  them  nciu  Statutes^ 
and  neiu  Precepts :  He  gracioufly  gives  them  Eyes 
to  fee, and  Ears  to  hear,  and  Hearts  to  underftand  ; 
he  caufes  them  to  underftand  the  Fear  of  the  Lord, 
and  fo  bring  the  Blind  by  a  Way  they  knew  not, 
and  leads  them  in  Paths  that  they  had  not  known, 
and  makes  Darknefs  Light  before  them,&:  crooked 
Things  ftrait. 

So  the  Affiftance  of  the  Spirit  in  Praying  and 
Preaching  feemsby  fome  to  have  been  greatly  mif- 
underftood,  and  they  have  fought  after  a  miracu- 
lous  Afliftance  of  Infpiration,  by  immediate  fug- 
gefling  of  Words  to  them,  by  fuch  Gifts  and  In- 
fluences of  the  Spirit,  in  Praying  and  Teaching, 
as  the  Apoftle  fpeaks  of,  i  Cor.  14.  14^  ^6. 
(which  many  natural  Men  had  in  thofe  Days.) 
Inftead  of  a  gracious  holy  Affiftance  of  th^  Spirit 
of  GOD,  which  is  the  far  more  excellent  Way  ; 
(as  I  Cor.  12.  31.  &  13.  I.)  Tbe  gracious,  and 
moft  excellent  kind  Affiftance  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
in  Praying  and  Preaching,  is  not  by  immediate 
fuggefting  of  Words  to  the  Apprehenfion,  which 
may  be  with  a  cold  dead  Heart,  but  by  warming 
the  Heart,  and  filling  it  with  a  great  Senfe  of  thofe 
Things  that  are  to  be  fpoken  of,  and  with  holy 
AfFeaions,  that  that  Senfe  and  thofe  AfFeaions 
may  fuggeft  Words.  Thus  indeed  the  Spirit  of 
GOD  may  be  faid,  indirefHy  and  mediately  to 

fuggeft 


Pa. IV.       in  Prayer  and  Preaching.       235 

fu^Q;eft  Words  tons,  to  indite  our  Petitions  for 
ws^h  to  teach  the  Preacher  what  to  fay  ;  he  fills 
the  Heart,  and  that  fills  the  Mouth  ;  as  we  know 
that  when  Men  are  greatly  affeded  in  any  Mat- 
ter, and  their  Hearts  are  very  full,  it  fills  them 
with  Matter  for  Speech,  and  makes  'em  eloquent 
upon  that  Subject ;  and  much  more  have  fpiritual 
Affeftions  this  Tendency,  for  many  Reafons  that 
might  be  given.    When  a  Perfon  is  in  an  holy  and 

Jively  Frame  in  fecret  Prayer,  it  will  wonderfully 
fupply  him  with  Matter,  and  with  ExprefTions,  as 
every  true  Chriftian  knows  ;  and  fo  it  will  fill  his 
Mouth  in  Chriftian  Converfation,  and  it  has  the' 

•'  likeTendency  to  enable  a  Perfon  in  publick  Prayer 
and  Preaching.  And  if  he  has  thefe  holy  Influ- 
ences of  the  Spirit  on  his  Heart  in  an  high  Degree, 
nothing  in  the  World  will  have  fo  great  a  Ten- 
dene  v  to  make  both  the  Matter  and  Manner  of 
his  publick  Performances  excellent  and  profitable. 
But  fince  there  is  no  immediate  fuggefting  of 
Words  from  the  Spirit  of  God  to  be  expecled  or 
defired,  they  who  neglect  and  defpife  Study  and 
Pre-meditation,  in  order  to  a  Preparation  for  the 
Pulpit,  in  fuch  an  Expectation,  are  guilty  of  Pre- 
fumption ;  tho'  doubtlefs  it  may  be  lawful  for  fome 
Perfons,  in  fome  Cafes,  (and  they  may  be  called 
to  it,)  to  preach  with  very  little  Study  ;  and  the 
Spirit  of  God,  by  the  heavenly  Frame  of  Heart 
that  he  gives  them,  may  enable  them  to  do  it  to 
excellent  Purpofe. 

Befides  this  moft  excellent  Way  of  the  Spirit  of 

God  his  affifting  Minifters  in  publick  Performan* 

cesjwhich  (confider'd  as  thePreacher'sPriviledge) 

X  far 


2^6    Impreffions  and  Revelations.     Pa. IV. 

far  excels  Infpiration.     There  is  a  common  Af- 
fiftance  which  natural  Men  may  have  in  thefe 
Days,  and  which  the  godJy  may  have  intermingled 
with  a  gracious  Affiftancc,  which  is  alfo  very  dif- 
ferent from  Infpiration,  and  that  is  this  aflifting  na- 
tural Principles  ;  ashisaffifting  the  natural  Ap- 
prehenfion,  Reafon,  Memory,  Confcience  and 
natural  Affeftion. 
^  ^    But  to  return  to  the  Head  of  Impreffions  and 
immediate  Revelations ;  many  lay  themfelves  open 
to  a  Delufion  by  expe<fting  Diredion  from  Hea- 
ven in  this  Way,  and  waiting  for  it ;  In  fiich  a 
Oafe  it  is  eafy  for  Perfons  to  imagine  that  they  have 
it.     They  are  perhaps  at  a  Lofs  concerning  fome- 
thing,  undetermined  what  they  fhall  do,  or  what 
Courfe  they  fhould  take  in  fome  Affair,  and  they 
pray  to  God  to  direct  them,  and  make  known  to 
'em  his  Mind  and  Will ;  and  then,  inftead  of  ex- 
pefting  to  be  direifted,  by  being  affifted  in  Confi- 
deration  of  the  Rules  of  God's  Word,  aiad  their 
Circumftances,  and  God's  Providence,  and  ena- 
bled to  look  on  Things  in  a  true  Light,  and  juftly 
to  weigh  them,  they  are  waiting  for  fome  fecret 
immediate  Influence  on  their  Minds,  unaccounta- 
bly fwaying  their.  Minds^i  and.  turnijlg  tbeir  Tha'ts 
or  Ihclinations  that  Way  that  Godi  "\RrpuI4  have 
tbeni  go,  and  are  ohferviaig  their  own  Minds,:  to 
fee  what  arifes  there,  whether  fome  Texts  qf  Scrip- 
ture don't  come  into  the  Mind,  or  Vv'hether  feme 
Ideas,  or  inward  Motions  and  Difpofitions  don't 
arife  in  fomething  of  an  'unaccountable  Manner, 
tfeat  they  may  call  a  divine  Dire£iion.     Hereby 
they  are  expofed  to  two  Things,  Fh-/I^  They  lay 

them- 


Pa.  IV.  Praying  in  Faith.  237 

themfelves  open  to  the  Devil,  and  give  him  a  fair 
Opportunity  to  lead  them  vi^here  he  pleafes;  for 
they  ftand  ready  to  follow  the  firft  extraordinary 
Impulfe  that  they  (hall  have,  gr6undlefly  conclu* 
ding  it  is  from  GOD.  And  Secondly^  They  are 
greatly  expofed  to  be  deceived  by  their  own  Ima- 
ginations ;  for  fuch  ah  Expectation  av/akens  and 
quickens  the  Imagination ;  and  that  oftentimes  h 
called  an  uncommon  Impreffion,  that  is  no  fuch 
Thing  ;  and  they  afcribe  that  to  the  Agency  of 
fome  invifible  Being,  that  is  owing  only  to  them^ 
felves. 

Again^  another  Way  that  many  have  been  de- 
ceived, is  by  drawing  falfe  Conclufions  from  true 
Premifes.     Many  true  and  eminent  Saints  have 
been  led  into  Miftakes  and  Snares,  by  arguing  too 
much  from  that,  that  they  have  prayed  in  Faith  { 
and  that  oftentimes  when  the  Premifes  are  true, 
they  have  indeed  been  greatly  aflifted  in  Prayer  foi" 
fuch  a  particular  Mercy,  andfhave  had  the  true 
Spirit  of  Prayer  in  Exercife  in  their  aflcing  it  of 
GOD  ;  but  they  have  concluded  more  fromthefc 
Premifes  than  is  a  juft  Confequence.  from  them  : 
That  they  have  thus  prayed  is  a  fure  Sign  that  their 
Prayer  is  accepted  and  heard,  and  that  GOD  will 
give  a  gracious  Anfwer,according  to  his  ownWif- 
dom  and  that  the  particular  Thing  that  was  aflced 
Ihall  be  given,  or  that  which  is  equivalent .;  this  is 
ajult  Confequence  from  it;  but  it  is  not  inferM 
by  any  new  Revelation  now  made,  but  by  the  Re- 
velation that  is  made  in  GOD's  Word,  the  Pro- 
mifes  made  to  the  Prayer  of  Faith  in  the  holy 
Scriptures:  But  that  GOD  will anfwcr  them  in 

X  2  that    1 


238         Praying  in  Faith  for         P a  .  IV. 

that  individual  Thing  that  they  afk,  if  it  ben't  a 
Tiling  promifed  in  GOD's  Word,  or  they  don't 
certainly  know  that  it  is  that  which  will  be  mjoft 
for  the  Good  of  God's  Church,  and  the  Advance- 
ment of  C H  R I  s  T  's  Kingdom  and  Glory,  nor  whe- 
ther it  will  be  beft  for  ^hem,  is  more  than  can  be 

juftly  concluded  from  it. If  GOD  remarkably 

meets  with  one  of  his  Children  while  he  is  praving 
for  a  particular  Mercy  of  great  Importance,  for 
himfelf,  or  fome  other  Perfon,  or  any  Society  of 
Men,  &  does  by  the  Influences  of  his  Spirit  greatly 
humble  him,  &  empty  him  of  himfelf  in  his  Prayer, 
and  manifefts  himfelf  remarkably  in  his  Excellen- 
cy, Sovereignty  and  his  AU-fufficient  Power  and 
Grace  in  Jesus  Ch r  i  s  t  ,  and  does  in  a^emarka- 
ble  Marnier  enable  the  Perfon  to  come  to  him  for 
that  Mercy,  poor  in  Spirit,  and  with  humble  Re- 
fignation  to  God, and  with  a  great  Degree  of  Faith 
in  the  divine  Sufficiency,  and  the  Sufficiency  of 
Christ's  Mediation,  that  Perfon  has  indeed  a 
great  deal  the  more  Reafon  to  hope  that  God  will 
grant  that  Mercy,  than  otherwife  he  would  have  ; 
the  greater  Probability  is  juftly  inferM  from^That, 
agreable  to  the  Promifes  of  the  holy  Scripture, 
that  the  Prayer  is  accepted  and  heard ;  and  it  is 
much  more  probable  that  a  Prayer  that  is  heard 
will  be  returned  with  the  particular  Mercy  that  is 
aflced,  than  one  that  is  not  heard.  And  there  is 
no  Reafon  at  all  to  doubt,  but  that  God  does  fome 
Times  efpecially  enable  to  the  Exercifesof  Faith^ 
when  the  Minds  of  his  Saints  are  engaged  inTho'ts 
of,  and  Prayer  for  fome  particular  Bleffing  they 
greatly  defire  j  i.  e,  GOD  is  pleafed  efpecially  to 


Pa. IV.       for  a  particular  M&cy.         239 

give  'em  a  believing  Frame,  a  Senfe  of  his  Fulnefs, 
and  a  Spirit  of  humble  Dependence  on  him^at  fuch 
Times  as  when  they  are  thinking  of  and  praying 
for  that  Mercy,  more  than  for  other  Mercies  ; 
he  gives  'em  a  particujar  Senfe  of  his  Ability  to  do 
that  Thing,  and  of  the  Sufficiency  of  his  Power  to 
overcome  fuch  and  fuch  Obftacles,  and  the  Suffi- 
ciency of  his  Mercy,  and  of  the  Blood  of  Chf.ist 
for  the  Removal  of  the  Guilt  that  is  in  the  Way 
of  the  Beftowment  of  fuch  a  Mercy,  in  particular* 
When  this  is  the  Cafe,  it  makes  the  Probability 
ftill  much  greater,  that  God  intends  to  beftov/  tfie 
particular  Mercy  fought,  in  his  own  Time^  and 
his  own  Way.  But  here  is  nothing  of  the  Nature 
of  a  Revelation  in  the  Cafe,  but  only  a  drawing 
rational  Conclufions  from  the  particular  Manner 
and  Circumftances  of  the  ordinary  gracious  Influ- 
ences of  God's  Spirit.  And  as  God  is  pleafed 
fometimes  to  give  his  Saints  particular  Exercifes 
of  Faith  in  his  Sufficiency,  with  Regard  to  parti- 
cular Mercies  they  feek,  foheis  fometimes  pleas'd 
to  make  Ufe  of  his  Word  in  order  to  it,  and  helps 
the  Aaings  of  Faith  with  Refpefl:  to  fuch  a  Mercy, 
by  Texts  of  Scripture  that  do  efpecially  exhibit 
the  Sufficiency  of  God's  Power  or  Mercy,  infucb 
a  likeCafe,orfpeak  of  fuch  aManner  of  the  Exer- 
cife  of  God's  Strength  &  Grace.  The  ftrengthen- 
ing  of  their  Faith  in  God's  Sufficiency  in  thisCafe. 
is  therefore  a  juft  Improvement  of  fuch  Scriptures^; 
it  is  no  more  than  what  thofe  Scriptures,  as  they 
ftand  in  the  Bible,  do  hold  forth  juft  Caufe  for.  , . 
But  to  take  them  as  new  Whifpers  or  Revelations 
fi-cm  Heaven,  i§  «ot  making  a  juft  ipprovOT*€n<; 
X  3  "  oi: 


1^ 


240         Praying  in  Faith  for         Pa.IV. 

of  them.  —  If  Perfons  have  thus  a  Spirit  ofPrayer 
remarkably  given  them,  concerning  a  particular 
Mercy,  from  Time  to  Time,  fo  as  evidently  to 
fce  aflifled  to  aft  Faith  in  God  ,  in  that  Particular, 
in  a  verydiftinguifhing  Manner,  the  Argument  in 
feme  Cafes,  maybe  very  ftrong  that  God  does  de- 
fign  to  grant  that  Mercy,  not  from  any  Revela- 
tion novi^  made  of  it,  but  from  fuch  a  Kind  and 
Manner  of  the  ordinary  Influence  of  h'xs  Spirit, 
with  refpeft  to  that  Thing. 

But  here  a  great  deal  of  Caution  and  Circitm- 
fpeftionmuft  be  ufed  in  drawing  Infer-ences  of  this 
Nature  :  There  are  m^ny  Ways  Perfons  may  be 
mifled  and  deluded.  The  Ground  on  which  feme 
expeft  that  they  fhall  receive  tlie  Thing  they  have 
alked  for,  is  rather  a  ftrong  Imagination,  than  any 
true  humble  Faith  in  the  divine  Sufficiency.  7"hey 
have  a  ftrong  Perfvi'^afion  that  the  Thing  afked  fliall 
be  granted,  (which  they  can  give  no  Reafon  for,) 
.without  any  remarkable  Difcovery  of  that  Glory 
andrFulnefs  of  God  and  Christ;  that  is  the 
Grottnd  of  Faith.  And  fometimes  the  Confidence 
I   that  Perfons  have  that  their  Prayers  fhall  be  an- 

I  fwered,  is  only  a  Self-righteous  Confidence,    and 

II  no  true  Faith  :  They  have  a  high  Conceit  of  them- 
\\  felves  as  eminent  Saints,  and  fpecial  Favourites  of 
II  God,  and  have  alfo  a  high  Conceit  of  the  Prayers 
h  they  have  made,  becaufe  they  were  much  eiJarged  , 
fl  and  affefted  in  them  ;  and  hence  they  are  pofitive 
•jl  in  it  that  the  Thing  will  come  to  pafs.  And  fome- 

■  times  when  once  they  have  conceived  fiich  a  No- 
tion, they  grow  ftronger  and  ftronger  in  it ;  and 
this  they'think  is  from  an  immediate  divine  Hand 

upon 


Fa:  IV.         a  particular  Mercy,  l^^x 

upon  their  Minds  to  ftrengthen  their  Confidence  ; 
whereas  it  is  only  by  their  dwelling  in  their  Mlnds^ 
on  their  own  Excellency,  and  high  Experiences, 
and  great  Afliftances,  whereby  they  look  brighter 
and  brighter  in  their  ownEyes.  Hence  'tis  found 
Oblci  vation  and  Experience,  that  nothing  in  the 
^Vorld  expofes  fo  much  t©  Enthunafm  as  fpiritual 
Pride  and  Self-righteoufnefs. 

Tn  order  to  drawing  a  juft  Inference  from  the 
firppofed  AfTiftance  we  have  had  in  Prayer  for  a 
particular  Mercy,  and  judging  of  the  Probability 
of  the  Beftowment  of  that  individual  Mercy,  ma- 
iiv  'Ilitiigb  mull:  be  confidered.  We  muft  confi- 
der  the  Importance  of  the  Mercy  fought,  and  the 
Principle  whence  we  fo  earneitly  defire  it  5  how 
fiir  Tt  is' good, and  agreeable  to  the  Mind  and  Will 
of  (joD  ;  the  Degree  of  "Love  to  GaD  that  we 
exerciied  in  our  Prayer  ;  the  Degree  of  Difcovery 
that  is  made  of  the  divine  Sufficiency,  and  the  De- 
gree in  wJjich  our  AfTiftance  is  maniieftly  diftin- 
guiihing  with  refpect  to  that  Mercy.  And  there 
is  nothing  of  greater  Importance  in  the  Argument 
than  "the  Degree  of  Humility,  Poverty  of  Spirit, 
Self-emprinefs  and  P.efignation  to  the  holy  Will  of 
God,  which  God  gives  us  the  Exercife  of  in  our 
feeking  that  Mercy  :  Praving  for  a  particular 
Mercy  with  much  of  thefe  Things,  I  have  often 
feen  blefied  with  a  remarkable  Beftowment  of  the 
particular  Thing  afked  for. 

From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  which 
Way  God  may,  only  by  the  ordinary  eracious  In- 
fluences of  his  Spirit,  fometimes  give  his  Saiin^ 
fpecial  Reafon  to  hope  for  the  Beftowment  of  a 

par- 


24^       A  good  Btfpojttton  mufi  be      Pa. IV  ^; 

particular  Mercy  they  defire  and  have  prayed  for, 
and  which  we  may  fuppofe  he  oftentimes  gives 
eminent  Saints,  that  have  great  Degrees  of  Hu- 
mility, and  much  Communion  with  God.  '  And 
here,  I  humbly  conceive,  fome  eminent  Servants 
of  Je  s  u  s  Ch  r  I  s  t  that  have  appeared  in  theChu rch 
of  God,  that  we  read  of  in  Ecclefiaftical  Story, 
have  been  led  into  a  Miftake  ;  and  through  Want 
of  diftinguifhing  fuch  Things  as  thefe  from  imme- 
diate Revelations,  have  thought  that  GOD  has  fa- 
voured 'em,  in  fome  In{lances,with  the  fame  Kind 
of  divine  Influences  that  the  Apcflles  and  Prophets 
had  of  old. 

Another  erroneous  Principle  that  fome  have  em- 
braced, that  has  been  a  Source  of  many  Errors  in 
theirConducSt,  is.  That  Perfons  ought  always  to 
do  whatfoever  the  Spirit  of  GOD  (tho'  but  indi- 
re6lly,)  inclines  them  to.  Indeed  the  Spirit  of 
GOD  in  it  felf  is  infinitely  perfedl,  and  all  his  im- 
mediate Actings,  fimply  confidered,  are  perfect, 
and  there  can  be  nothing  wrong  in  them  -,  and 
therefore  all  that  the  Spirit  of  GOD  inclines  us  to 
direAly  and  immediately,  witliout  the  Interventi- 
on of  any  other  Caufe  that  (hall  pervert  and  mif- 
improve  what  is  from  the  Spirit  of  GOD,  ought 
to  be  done  ;  but  there  may  be  many  Things  that 
we  may  be  difpofed  to  do,  which  Difpofttion  may^ 
indireftly  be  from  the  Spirit  of  GOD,  that  we 
ought  not  to  do  :  The  Difpofition  in  general  may 
be  good,  and  be  from  the  Spirit  of  GOD,  but  the 
particular  Determination  of  that  Difpofition,  ast<J 
particular  Adlions,  Objefts  and  Circumftances, 
may  be  ill,  aud  not  fxQW  the  Spirit  gf  GOD,  but 

may 


Pa.  IV.       regulated  by  Bifcretion.-        243 

may  be  from  the  Intervemion  or  Interpofition  of 
fomc  Infirmity,  Blindnefs,  Inadvertence,  Deceit 
or  Corruption  of  ours  ;  fo  that  altho'  the  Difpo- 
fition  '\i\  general  ought  to  be  allowed  &  promoted, 
and  all  thofe  Aclings  of  it  that  are  fimply  from. 
GOD'S  Spirit,  yet  the  particular  ill  Direction  or 
Determination  of  that  Diipofition^  which  is  from 
fome  other  Caufe,  oug[ht  not  to  be  followed. 

As  for  Initance,  The  Spirit  of  GOD  may  caufe 
a  Perfon  to  liave  a  dear  Love  to  another,  and  fo  a 
great  Defireof,  and  Delight  in  his  Comfort,  Eafe 
and  Pleafurc  :  This  Difpofuiion  in  general  is  good^ 
'and  ought  to  be  followed ;  but  yet  through  the  In- 
tervention of  IndifcretionjOr  fome  other  bad  Caufe, 
it  may  be  ill  dlre(a:ed,  and  have  a  bad  Determina- 
tion, as  to  particular  Acts  ;  and  the  Perfon  indi- 
reclly,  through  that  real  Love  that  he  has  to  his 
Neighbour,  mav  kill  him  with  Kindne(s  ;  he  may 
do  that  out  of  fmcere  good  Will  to  him,  that  may 

tend   to  ruin  him. A  good  Difpofition  may 

through  fome  Inadvertence  or  Delufion,  ftrojigly 
incline  a  Perfon  to  that,  w^hich  if  he  fawall  Things 
as  they  are^  would  be  moft  contran^  to  diat  Dif- 
pofition. The  true  Loyalty  of  a  General^  and  his 
Zeal  for  tlie  Honour  of  his  Prince,  may  exceed- 
ingly animate  him  in  War  ;  but  yet  this  that  is  a 
good  Difpofition,  thro'  Indifcretion  and  Miftake, 
may  pu(h  him  forward  to  thofe  Things  that  give 
the  Enemy  great  Advantage,  and  may  expofe  faimr 
and  his  Army  to  Ruin,  and  may  tend  to  the  Ruin 
ofhis  Mafter'slntereft. 

llie  Apoiile  does  evidently  fuppofe  that  the 
Spirit  of  God  in  bis  extraordinary,  immediate  and 

miira- 


244     A  good  Difpo/ttion  tnuji,  &c.     Pa. IV. 

miraculous  Influences  on  Men's  Minds,  may  in 
fome  Refpeft  excite  Inclinations  in  Men,  that  rf 
gratified,  would  tend  to  Confufion,  and  therefore 
muflr  fometimes  be  reftrained,  and  in  their  Exer- 
cife,  muft  be  under  the  Government  of  Difcretion. 
I  Cor.  14.  31,  32,  33.  For  ye  7nay  all  prophecy^ 
one  by  one^  that  all  may  learn  ^  and  all  may  be  com- 
farted.  And  the  Spirits  of  the  Prophets  are  fubje^f 
to  the  Prophets  ;  for  God  Is  mi  the  Author  of  Confu- 
feon^  but  of  Peace ^  as  In  all  the  Churches  of  the  Saints. 
Here  by  the  Spirits  of  the  Prophets y  according  to 
the  known  Phrafeology  of  the  Apoftle,  is  meant 
the  Spirit  of  God  adling  in  the  Prophets,  accord- 
ing to  thofefpecial  Gifts,  with  which  each  one  was 
endow'd.  And  here  it  is  plainly  implied  that  the 
Spirit  of  G0D5  thus  operating  in  them,  may  be 
an  Occafion  of  their  having,  fometimes  an  Incli- 
nation to  do  that,  in  the  Exercife  of  thofe  Gifts, 
which  it  w^  not  proper,  decent  or  profitable  that 
they  ftiould  ;  and  that  therefore  the  Inclination, 
tho'  indireftly  from  the  Spirit  of  God,  fhould  be 
reftrain'd,  and  that  it  ought  to  be  fubjeft  to  the 
Difcretion  of  the  Prophets,  as  to  the  particular 
Time  and  Circumftancesof  its  Exercife. 

I  can  make  no  Doubt  but  that  it  is  poffible  for 
a  Minifter  to  have  given  him  by  the  Spirit  of  Go  d  , 
fuch  a  Senfe  of  the  Importance  of  eternal  Things, 
and  of  the  Mifery  of  Mankind,  that  are  fo  many 
of  them  expofed  to  eternal  Deftruftion,  together 
with  fuch  a  Love -to  Souls,  that  he  might  find  in 
himfelf  a  Difpofition  to  fpend  all  his  Time,  Day 
and  Night,  in  warning,  exhorting  and  calling  upon 
Men,  and  fo  that  he  muft  be  obliged  as  it  were 

to 


Pa.IV.     Tfue  Zeal  miift  be  regulated.     245 

to  do  Violence  to  himfelf  ever  to  refrain,  fo  as  to 
give  himfelf  any  Opportunity  to  eat,  drink  or 
deep.  And  fo  I  believe  there  may  be  a  Difpofnion 
in  like  Manner,  indireftly  excited  in  Lay-Perfons, 
through  the  Intervention  of  their  Infirmity,  to  do 
what  only  belongs  to  Minifters.     Yea  to  do  thofe 
Thin2;s  that  v/ould  not  become  either  Minifters 
or  People  :  Through  the  Influence  of  the  Spirit  of 
God,  together  vi^ithw^antofDifcretion,  and  fome 
remaining  Corruption,  Women  &  Children  might 
feel  themfelves  inclined  to  break  forth  and  fcream 
aloud,  to  great  Congregations,  warning  &  exhort- 
ing the  whole  Multkude,  and  to  go  forth  &  hallow 
nd  fcream  in  the  Streets,  or  to  leave  the  Families 
.  ney  belong  to,  arui  go  from  Houfe  to  Houfe,  ear- 
neftly  exhorting  others  ;  but  yet  it  would  by  no 
Means  follow  that  it  was  their  Duty  to  do  thefe 
Things,  or  that  they  would. natJiave  a  Tendency 
to  do  ten  Times  as  much  Hurt  as  Good. 

Another  wrgng  Principle  from  whence  have^ 
arifen  Errofs -in'Condu£l,  is,  that  whatfoever  is 
found  to  be  of  prefent  and  immediate  Benefit,  may 
and  ought  to  be  praftifed,  without  looking  forw^ard 
tofutureConfequences.  SomePerfons  feem  to  think 
that  it  fufficiently  juftifies  any  Thing  that  they  fay 
Qr  do, that  it  is  found  to  be- for  tlieirprefentEdifica- 
tion,  and  the  Edification  of  thofe  that  are  with 
them  ;  it  aflifts  and  promotes  their  prefent  Affec- 
tion, and  therefore  they  think  they  fhould  not  con- 
cern themfelves  about  future  Consequences,  but 
leave  them  with  God.  Indeed  in  Things  that  are 
^in  themfelves  our  Duty,  being  required  by  moral 
Rulejs,  or  abfoluteipOfitive  Commands  of  God, 

they 


246  //>  niufi  lock  at  Pa.  IV. 

t^iev  mufl  be  done,  and  future  Confequcnces  muft 
be  left  with  God  ;  our/Elcaion  and  Difcretion 
takes  no  Place  here  :  But  in  other  Things  we  are 
to  be  governed  by  Difcretion,  and  muft  not  oniy 
look  at  the  prefcnt  Good,  hut  our  View  muft  be 
extenfive,  and  we  muft  look  at  the  Confequences 
of  Thm^^.     'Tis  the  Duty  of  Minifters  efpecially 
to  exercife  this  Difcretion  :    In  Things  wherein 
they  are  not  determined  by  an  abfolute"Rule,  and 
that  are  not  enjoin'd  them  by  a  Wifdom  fuperior 
to  their  own,  Christ  has  left  them  to  their  Qwn 
Difcretion,  with  that  general  Rule,that  thev  fhould 
cxercife  the  utmoft  Wifdom  they  can  obtain,  in 
purfuing  that,  which  upon  the  beft  View  of  the 
Confequcnces  of  Things  they  can  get,  will  tend  , 
moft  to  the  Advancement  of  his  Kingdom.    This 
is  implied  in  thofe  Words  of  Christ  to  his  Dif- 
ciples, when  he  fent  'em  forth  to  preach  the  GofpeJ, 
Mat,\o.  16.  Be  ye  wife  as  Serpents,      The  Scrip- 
ture always  reprefents   the  Work  of  a  Gofpel- 
Minifter  by  thofe  Employments  that  do  efpecialJy 
require  a  wife  Forefight  of,  and  Provifion  for  fu- 
ture Events  and  Confequences.   So  it  is  compared 
to  the  Bufinefs  of  a  Steward,  that  is  a  Bufmefs  that 
in  an  eminent  Manner  requires  Forecaft',  and  a 
wife  laying  in  of  Provifion,  for  the  Supply -of  the 
Needs  of  the  Family,  according  to  its  future  Ne- 
ceflities  ;   and  a  good  Minlfter  is  called  a  wife  Ste- 
ward :  So  'tis  compared  to  theBufmefs  of  an  Huf- 
bandman,  that  almoft  wholly  confifts   in  thofe 
Things  that  are  done  with  a  View  to  the  future 
Fruits  &  Confequences  of  his  Labour  :  The  Huf- 
bandman's  Difcretion  and  Forecaft  is  eloquently 

fet 


Fa.  IV.     the  Confcquences  ef  'things 

fet  forth  in  Ifa.  28.  2+,  25,  26.   Doth  the  Phu- 
man  piou'  all  Day  to  fow  ?  Doth  he  open  and  break 


-Woeat,  and  the  appointed  Barly,  and  the  Rye ,  tn  their 
Place  ^  For  his  Gad  doth  infru^  him  to  Dtjcretion, 
and  doth  teack  him.  So  the  Work  of  the  Minif^y 
is  compared  to  that  of  a  wife  Builder  or  Architeft, 
who  has  a  long  Reach,  and  comprchenfive  View ; 
and  for  whom  it  is  necelTarj^that  when  he  begins  a 
BuiIding,heihould  have  at  once  a  View  of  the  whole 
Frame,  and  all  the  future  Parts  of  the  Strufture, 
even  to  the  Pinnacle,  that  all  may  fitly  be  fram'd 
together.  So  allb  it  is  compared  to  the  Bufinefs  of 
a  Tracer  or  Merchant,  who  is  to  gain  by  trading 
with  the  Money  that  he  begins  with  :  This  alfo  is 
a  Bufinefs  that  exceedingly  requires  Forecaft,  and 
without  it,  is  never  hke  to  be  followed  with  any 
Succcfs,  for  any  long  Time ;  So  'tis  reprefented 
.by  the  Bufinefs  of  a  Fiflierman,  w^hich  depends  on 
Craft  a'nd  Subtilty  :  'Tis  alfoxompar'd  to  the  Bu- 
finefs of  a  SolJior  that  goes  to  War,which  is  a  Bu- 
\finefs  that  perhaps,  above  any  other  fecular  Bufi- 
nefs, requires  great  Forefight,  and  a  wife  Proviiion 
Sox  future  Events  and  Confequences. 

And  particularly  Minifters  ought  not  to  be  care- 
kfs  how  much  they  difcompofe  &  ruffle  the  Minds 
of  thofe  that  they  elteem  natural  Men^  or  how 
great  an  Uproar  they  raife  in  the  carnal  World, 
and  fo  lay  Blocks  in  the  Way  of  the  Propagation 
of  Religion.  This  certainly  is  not  to  follow  the 
Example  of  that  zealous  Apoftle  Pauly  who  tho' 
Y  he 


248  Behaviour  tewards  natural  Men.  P.IV. 

he  would  not  depart  from  his  enjoinM  Duty  to 
pleafe  carnal  Men,  yet  wherein  he  might  with  a 
good  Confcience,  did  exceedingly  lay  out  himfelf 
to  pleafe  them,  and  if  poffible  to  avoid  railing  in 
the  Multitude,  Prejudices,  Oppofitions  and  Tu- 
rnouts againft  the  Gofpel ;  and  lookM  upon  it  that 
it  was  of  great  Confequence  that  it  fh©uld  be,  if 
poffible,  avoided,  i  Cor.  10.  32,  33.  Give  none 
Offence^  neither  to  the  Jews^  nor  to  the  Gentiles^  nor 
to  the  Church  of  God :  Even  as  I  pleafe  all  Men^ 
in  all  Things^  not  feeking  mine  own  Profit^  hut  the 
Profit  of  many  y  that  they  Tnay  he  faved.  Yea,  he  de- 
clares that  he  laid  himfelf  out  fo  much  for  this, 
that  he  made  himfelf  a  Kind  of  a  Servant  to  all 
Sorts  of  Men,  conforming  to  their-Cuftoms  and 
various  Humours,  in  every  Thing  wherein  he 
might,  even  in  Things  that  were  very  burdenfom 
to  him,  that  he  might  not  fright  Men  away  from 
Chriftianity,  and  caufe  them  to  ftand  as  it  were 
braced  and  armed  againft  it,  but  on  the  contrary, 
if  poffible,  might  with  Condefcent^on  and  Friend- 
fhip  win  and  draw  them  to  it ;  as  you  may  fee, 
I  Cor.  9.  19,20,21,22,23.  And  agreable  here- 
to, are  the  Direftions  he  gives  to  others,  both 
Minifters  and  People  :  So  he  direfls  the  Chriftian 
Romans^  not  to  pleafe  themfehes^  hut  every  one  pleafe 
his  Neighbour^  for  hjs  Good,  to  Edification,  Rom. 
15.  1,2.  And  to  follow  after  the  Things  that  mske 
/■5rP^jf^,Chap.i4.i9.  And  he  prefTes  it  inTerms 
exceeding  ftrong,i2^772.i2.  18.  If  it  hepffible,  as 
much  as  lieth  in  you,  live  peaceably  with  all  Men. 
And  he  direfts  Minifters, to  endeavour  if  poffible, 
to  gainOppofers  by  a  meek  condefcending  Treat- 
ment, 


fJV.  Behaviour  towards  natural  Men.  249 
ment,  avoiding  all  Appearance  of  Strife  or  Fier^^^^ 
nefs,  2  nm.  2.  24,  25,  26.     To  the  like  Pur- 
pofe,  the  fame  Apoftle  direfts  Chriftians  to  walk 
in  JVifdom,  towards  them  that  are  without^  bph.  4- 
c.  And  to  avoid  giving  OfFence  to  others,  if  we 
can,  that  our  Good  mayn't  be  evilfpoken  of,  Kora. 
14.  16.     So  that  'tis  evident  that  the  great  and 
moft  zealous  and  moft  fuccefsful  Propagator  ot 
vital  Religion  that  ever  was,  looked  upon  it  to  be 
ofgreatConfequence  to  endeavour,  as  much  as- 
poflible,  by  all  the  Methods  of  lawful  Meeknefs 
and  Gentlenefs,  to  avoid  raifing  the  Prejudice  and 
Oppofition  of  the  World  againft  Religion.  ---- 
When  we  have  done  our  utmoft  there  will  be  Op- 
pofition enough  againft  vital  Religion,   agamft 
which  the  carnal  Mind  of  Man  has  fuch  an  En- 
mity ;   (we  fhould  not  therefore  needlefly  increafe 
tfA  raife  that  Enmity)  as  in  the  Apoftles  Days, 
tho*  he  took  {o  much  Pains  to  pleafe  Men,  yet  be- 
caufe  he  was  faithful  and  thorough  in  his  Work, 
Tcrfecution  almoft  every  where  was  raifed  againft 
Mm. 

'  A  Fiflierman  is  careful  not  needlcfsly  to  ruffle 
apd  difturb  the  Water,  leaft  he  {hould  drive  the 
Pifh  away  from  his  Net ;  but  he'll  rather  endea- 
vour if  poflible  to  draw  them  into  it.  Such  a 
Fifherman  was  the  Apoftle.  7,  Cor.  12.  15,  16. 
And  I  will  very  gladly  fpend  and  be  /pent  for  you  ; 
though  the  more  abundantly  I  love  you y  the  lefs  I  be 
loved »  But  he  it  Jo,  1  did  not  burden  you,  never- 
tbelefs,  being  crafty,  I  caught  you  with  Guile. 

The  Neceffity  of  fufFering  Perfeciifion,  in  or- 
der to  being  a  true  Chriftian,  has  undoubtedly  by 
Y  2  fome 


.2^0      Cbncerninj^  the  Necejftty  of    Pa.  IV5 

fame  been  carried  to  an  Extreme,  and  the  Doc 
trme  has  been  abufed.     It  has  been  Ibbk'd  upon 

''^''^S'^n!'  ""^^^^  ^  ^^^^"'^  Credit  amongft  others 
as  a  Lhnftian,  that  he  ihould  be  perfeeiited.     I 
^ave  heard  it  made  an  Obieclion  a^ainft  the  Sin- 
cerity of  particular  Perfons,    that  \hev  were  ftb' 
more  hated  and  reproached.     Andthe  Mai:ntr  of-  ' 
glorying  in  Pcrfecution,  or  the  Crofi>  of  CfTRistr 
has  in  feme  been  very  wrong,   fo  as  has  had  too 
much  of  an  Appearance  of  lifting  up  theiiifelv^s  in 
It,  that  they^were  very  much  hated  and  reviled, 
riiore  than  moll,  as  an  Evidence  of  their  excelling 
others,  in  being  good  Soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ. 
L      buch  an  Improvement  of  the  Dodrine  of  the  En- 
I      mity  between  the  Seed  ofthe  Woman  &  the  Seed 
I      of  the  Serpent,  and  of  the  Neceffity  of  Perfecution,     . 

becoming  credible  and  cuftomary,  has  a  direct^ 
I      Tendency  to  caufe  thofe  that  would  be  accounted 
I      true  Chraiians,   to  behave  themfelves  fo  towards 
t,     thofe  that  are  not  well  affeaed  to  Religion,  as  to 
■     provoke  their  Hatred,  or  at  leaft  to  be  but  little 
careful  to  avoid  it,  and  not  very  ftudioufly  aild- 
ekrneftly  to  ftrive,   (a/ter  the  Apofde's  Example 
and  Precepts,)  to  pleafe  them  to  their  Edification, 
and  by  Meeknefs  &  Gcntlenefs  to  win  them,  and 
by  all  poflible  Means  to  live  peaceably  with  them. 
I  believe  that  Saying  of  our  Saviour,  I  came  not 
to  fend  Peace  on  Earthy  but  Divifton^  has  been  abu- 
fed  ;  as  tho'  when  we  fee  great  Strife  and  Divifioa 
arife  about  Religion,  and  violent  Heats  ofSpirk 
againft  the  truly  pious,   and  a  loud  Clamour  and 
Uproar  againft  theWorkof  GoD,it  was  to  be  re- 
joiced in,  becaufe  it  is  that  M^hich  Christ  came 


to 


JPa-.IV;        Juffmng  Perfecution.  251 

10  fend.  It  has  ^ilmoft  been  laid  down  as  a  Maxim  - 
by  fome,  that  the  nwrc  Divifion  and  Strife,  the 
better  Sign  ;  which  naturally  leads  Perfons  to  feek 
it  and  provoke  it,  or  leads  'em  to,  and  encourages 
'cm  in  fuch  a  Manner  of  Behaviour,  fuch  a  Rough- 
nefs  and  Sbarpnefs,  or  fuch  an  afFeiled  Negle£l, 
as  has -a  natural  Tendency  to  raife  Prejudice  and 
Oppofition  ;'  inftead  of  ftriving,  as  the  Apoftle  did  ? 
to  his  utmoft,  by  all  Meeknefs,  Gentlenefe  and-i 
Benevolence  of  Behaviour,    to  prevent  or  aft.- 

..  fwageit. Christ  came  to  fend  a  Sword  oaf 

Earth,  and-to  caufe  Divifion,  no  ptherwife  thati^i 
h©  came,  to  fend  Damnation  ;  for  Christ  that- 
is  kt  for  the  glorious  Reftoration  of  fome^  is  fet  *^ 
for  the  Fail  of  others,  and  to  be  a  Stone  of  Sturn?^ » 
Wing  and  Rock  of  OfFencc  to  them,  and  an  Cfe^ 
cafion  of  their  vaftly  more  aggravated  and  terrible  ^ 
Damnation  ;  and  this  is  always  the  Confequeace  i* 
of  a  great  Out-pourii^  Df  th«  Spirit  and  Revi\i?alV. 
of  vital  Religion,  it  is  the>  Means  of  the  Salvation  i^ 
offome,  and  the  more  aggravated  Danmation-aof 
ethers.     But  certainly^  this- is  no  juft  Argumei*- 
that  Men*s  Exppfcdnefi  to  Damnation  is  not  to 
be  lamented,  or  that  we  fhould  not  exert  our 
felves  to  our  utmoft,  in  all  the  Methods- that  W€  ^ 
can  devife,  that  others  might  be  faved,  &  to  avoid -^ 
aU  fuch  Behaviour  tawards  'em  as  tends  to  lead  ^' 
'em  down  to  Hell.  - 

I  know  there  is  naturally  a  great  Enmity  in  th^ 
H^art  of  Man  againft  vital  Religion  >  and  I  be- 
Jieve  there  would  have  been  agreat  deaj  of^ppo- 
fifionagainft  this  glorious. Workof  God  in  iVh*;- 
England  if  the  Subjefts  &Pirojuoter«  of  it  had  *«-' 
Y- 3  fcivcd-    i 


2^1         Of  introducing  Things         P  a  .  1 V. 

hafved  themfelves  never  fo  agreeably  to  Chriftian 

Rules  J  and  I  believe  if  this  Work  goes  on  and 

:    fpreads  much  in  the  World,  faas  to  begin  to  (hake 

Kingdoms  and  Nations,  it  wiJl  dreadfully  ftir  up 

the  Rageof  Earth  &  Hell,  and  will  put  the  World 

,    into  the  greateft  Uproar  that  ever  it  v/as  in  fince 

'    it  flood  5  I  believe  Satan's  dying  Struggles  Mrill  be 

'    the  moft  violent :  But  yet  I  believe  a  great  deal 

might  be  done  to  reftrain  this  Oppofition,  by  a 

good  Conformity  to  that  of  the  Apofile  James ^ 

Jam.  3-  I3.   ff^o  is  a  wife  Man^  and  cndund  with 

I    Kmwkdge  ?    Let  him  Jheiv  out  of  a  good  Convcrfa- 

I    tim^  his  Works^  with  Meeknefs  of  IVifdom.     And 

;    lalfo  believe  that  if  the  Rules  of  Chriftian  Charity, 

I    Meeknefs,  Gentlenefs  and  Prudence  had  been  duly 

obferved  by  the  Generality  of  the  zealous  Promo^ 

;    ters  of  this  Work,  it  would  have  made  three^Times 

\  the  Progrefs  that  it  has  ;  /.  /.  if  it  had  pleafed  God 

in  fuch  a  Cafe,   to  give  a  Blefiing  to  Means  in 

Proportion  as  he  has  done. 

Under  this  Head  of  Carelefnefs  of  the  future 

i  Confequences  of  Things,  it  may  be  ;)roper  to  fay 

fomething  of  introducing  Things  nev/  &  ftrange, 

'*  and  that  have  a  Tendency  by  then  Novelty  to 

fliock  and  furprrze  People.  Nothing  can  be  more 

evident  from  the  New-Teftament,  than  that  fuch 

Things  ought  to  be  done  with  great  Caution  and 

Moderation,   to  avoid  the  Offence  that  may  be 

thereby  given,  and  the  Prejudices  that  might  be 

\  raifed,  to  clog  &  hinder  the  Progrefs  of  Religion  : 

Yea,  that  it  ought  to  be  thus  in  Things  that  are 

in  themfelves  good  and  excellent,  and  of  great 

Weight,  provided  they  are  not  Things  that  af«  of 


i* 


IPa.  IV.  new  and  Jiran^e.  253 

Ithe  Nature  of  abfolute  Duty,  which  tho' .'they  may- 
[appear  to  be  Innovations,  yet  can't  bentgltci-u 
[without  Immorality  or  Difobedi.ence  to  the  C^ni- 
Imands  of  God.  What  greatCaution  and  Mod^^- 
ration  did  the  Apoftles  ufe  in  introducing  Th"' 
J  that  were  new,  and  abolifhing  Things  that  v 
J  old  in  their  Day  ?  How  gradually  >\'cre  the  C.e- 
remonial  Peribrmanccs  of  the  L:iw  ol  zl'icfts  j  - 
moved  and  abohftied  among  the  Ci 
And  how  long  did  even  the  Apoitlc  -:  c<i.t  ..^t^.i^i^ 
/:onform  to  thofe  Ceremonies  which  he  culit  Aveak 
and  beggarly  Elements  ?  Yea  even  to  ti:e  Rite 
of  QrciTmclfion,  [Jfis  16.  3.)  that  he  fpe^ks  fa 
much  in  his  Epifiles  of  the  AVcrthlefbefs  of,  that 
he  might  not  prv.;judice  the  Javs.  againil  Chiiiti- 
anity  ?  So  it  feeins  to  have  been  very  gradually 
that  the  Jewijl}  Sabbath  was  abolifhed,  and  the 
Chriftian  Sabbath  introduced,  for  the  fame  P.ea- 
fon.  And  the  Apoflles  avoided  teaching  Kie  Chri- 
fliansin  thofe  early  Davs,  atleall  for  a  great  while, 
f(>me  high  and  excellent  divine  Truths,  becaufe 
tbey  could  not  bear  'em  yet.  i  Ccr.  3.  ii.  2* 
HiL  5.  II.  to  the  End.  Thus  ftriiily  did  the 
A^joflles  obferve  the  Rule  that  their  bleifed  Mafter 
gave  them,  of  not  putting  new  Wine  into  old  Bot- 
tles, 1  ell  they  Ihould  burft  the  Bottles,  and  k)fe 
the  Wine.  And  how  did  Christ  hijnfelf,  while 
on  Earth,  forbear  fo  plainly  to  teach  his  Difcipks 
the  great  Doi^rines  of  Chriftianity,  concerning 
his  Satisfaftioij,  and  the  Nature  and  Manner  of  a 
Sinner's  Juftifrcation  &  Reconciliation  with  God, 
and  the  particular  Benefits  of  his  Death,  Refur- 
K^^a  &  Afceniian)  becaufe  m  that  mfant  State 
^-  the 


2  54       Indifcreet  and  bajly  ZmL      Pa .  W.  ^ 

the  Difciples  were  then  in,  their  Minds  were  not 
prepared  for  fuch  Inftrudlions  ;  and  therefore  the 
more  clear  and  full  Revelation  of  thefe. Things  was 
reftrved  for  the  Time  when  their  Minds  ihould  be 
further  enlighten'd  and  ftrengthen'd  by  the  Qut- 
peuring  of  the  Spirit  after  his  Afcenlion^  Joh. 
l6.  12,  13.  I  have  yet  many  Things  to  fay  untoyou^ 
but  ye  cannot  bear  them  now  :  Howbeit^  ivhen  he^  the 
Spirit  of  Truth  is  come,  he  iv ill  guide  you  into  all  ^ 
T^uth.  And  Mark.  4.  33.  Jnd  with  many  fuch 
Parables  fpake  he  the  IVcrd  unto  them,  as  they  were 

able  to  bear  it, Thefc.Thingi?  might  be  enough 

to  convince  any  one,  that  don'f  think  himfelf  wifer 
than  Christ   and  his  Apoftles^  that  great  Pru- 
dence and  Caution  fhould  he  ufed  in  introducing 
Things  iiUo  the  Church  of  God,  that  are  very  , 
uncommon,  tho'  in  themfelves  they  may  be  vecy  '" 
excellent,  leaftby  ourRafhnefs  &  imprudent  Haft^e  - 
we  hinder  Religion,-  much  more  than  we  help  lU 
Perfons  that  are  influenced  by  an  indifcreet  Zeal 
are  always  in  too  much  Hafte  ;   they  are  impatient 
of  Delays,^  at^  therefore,  are  for  jumping  to  the  . 
uppermoft  Step  firll,    before  they  have  taken  the 
pffececdingSteps  y  whereby  they  expofe  themfiplves  . 
to  f*ll  and  break  their  Bones  :  It  is  a  Thing  very 
taking  with  them  to  fee  the  Building  rife^very  high, 
and  all  their  Endeavour  and  Strength  is  employed  . 
ift  advancing  ^he  Building  in  Height,  without  tak-r 
ing  Care  withal  proportionably  to  enlarge  the  Bot- 
tom ;  wher-eby-the  wholciis  in  JDanger  of  coming  , 
to  the  Ground;  or  they,  are .  for  putting  on  the  v 
StipoiavaridPiDnacle.b.efarethey  arc  come  -t^  it ,01  : 
fctferc  uwJdw^rPattJ  of  the  Building  :arc!vdan«  ; ,. 


Fa.  IV.       Indifcreet  and  hajfy  Zeal.        2 


i^j 


which  tends  at  once  to  put  a  Stop  to  the  BuilJ- 
.  ing,  and  hinder  its  ever  being  a  compleat  Struc- 
ture. Many  that  are-  thus  iin^irudent  and  hafty 
with  their  Zeal,  have  a  real  eager  Appetite  for 
that  which  is  good  ;  but  are  like  Children,  tliat 
are  impatient  to  wait  fo!r  the  Fruit  'till  the  proper 
Scafon  of  it,  and  therefore  fnatch  it  before  it  is 
ripe  :  Oftentimes  in  their  Flafte  thev  overfhoot 
their  Mark,  and  frullrate  their  own  End  ;  they 
put  that  wkich  they  would  obtain  further  out  of 
Reach  than  it  was  before,  and  eflabUfh  and  con- 
firm that  which  they  would  remove.  Things  mufl 
have  Time  to  ripen  :  The  pradeflt  Hufbandman 
waits  *till  he  has  received  the  former  and  the  kt- 
ter  Rain,  and  'till  the  Harveft  is  ripe,  before  lie 
reaps.  We  are  now  juft  as  it  were  beginning  to 
recover  out  of  a  dreadful  Difeafe  that  we  have  been 
long  under  ;  and  to  icai  a  M^n  recovering  from 
a  Fever  with  ftrong  Meat  at  once,  is  the  ready 
^  Way  to  kill  him.  The  Reformation  from  Popery 
was  much  hinder'd  by  ihis  haily  Zeal  :  Many 
were  for  immediately  reetifungkl  Diforders  W 
Force,  which  were  condemned  bv  £////^rT,  ani 
were  a  great  Trouble  to  him.  See  SleuLn*->ll\? . 
of  the  Reformation,  pag.  52.  cs\\  and  Book  V. 
tl^-oughont.  It  is  a  vain  Prejudice  that  feme  have 
lately  imbibed  againft  fuch  Rules  of  Prudence  and  - 
Moderation  :  They  will  be  forced  to  ccnie  to  'em ' 
at  l^ft  ;  tliey'll  find  thcmielves  that  tht^  are  not 
able  to  maintain  their  Caufe  without  'cm  ;  and  if 
they  won't  hearken  before,  Expenence  will  con- 
vince 'cm  at  lafl",  when  it  wi-ii  be  &00  Jate  for  them 
t-^  rectity  their  M.iliak.,. 

Aiiother 


256  A  wrong  Notkn  of        Pa.  IV. 

Another  Error,  that  is  of  the  Nature  of  an  er- 
^  roneous  Principle,  that  fome  have  gone  upon,  is 
a  wrong  Notion  that  they  have  of  an  Atteftation 
of  divine  Providence  to  Perfons  or  Things.  We 
go  too  far  when  we  look  upon  the  Succefs  that 
GaD  gives  to  fome  Perfons,  in  making  them  the 
Inftruments  of  doing  much  Good,  as  a  Teftimony 
of  God  ^s  Approbation  of  thofe  Perfons  and  all  the 
Courfes  they  take.  It  .is  a  main  Argument  that 
has  been  made  Ufe  of  to  defend  the  Conduft  of 
fome  of  thofe  Minifters,  that  have  been  Warned  as 
imprudent  &  irregular,  that  God  has  finiled  upon 
them  and  blefTed  them,  and  given  them  great  Suc- 
cefs, and  that  however  Men  charge  them  as  guilty 
of  many  wrong  Things,  yet  'tis  evident  that  God 
is  with  them,  and  then  who  can  be  againft  them? 
And  probably  fome  of  thofe  Minifters  themfclvcs, 
by  this  very.  Means,  have  had  their  Ears  ftopp'd 
againft  all  that  has  been  faid  to  convince  'em  oX 
their  Mifconducl:.  But  there  are  innumerable 
Ways  that  Perfons  may  be  mifled,  in  forming  a 
Judgment  of  the  Mind  and  Will  of  God,  from 
the  Events  of  Providence.  IF  a  Pcrfon's^  Succefs 
be  a  Reward  of  fomething  that  God  fees  in  hini^ 
that  he  approves  of,  yet  ^tis  no  Argument  that  he 
approves  of  every  Thing  in  him.  WH^o  can  tell 
how  far  the  divine  Grace  may  go  in  greatly  re- 
warding fome  fmall  Good  that  he  fees  in  a  Perfon, 
a  good  Meaning,  fomething  good  in  his  Difpofi- 
tion,  while  he  at  the  fame  Time,  in  fovereign 
Mercy,  hides  his  Eyes  from  a  great  deal  that  is 
bad,  that  'tis  his  Pleafure  to  forgive,  and  not  to 
mark  againft  the    Perfon,    tho'  in  it  fclf  it  be 

very 


P.IV.      the  Attefialion  of  Providence.     257 

very  ill  ?  God  has  not  told  us  after  what  Man- 
lier he  will  proceed  in  this  Matter,  and  wc  go  upon 
moft  uncertain  Grounds  when  we  undertake  to 
determine.  It  is  an  exceeding  difficult  Thing  to 
know  how  far  Love  or  Hatred  are  extrcifed  to- 
wards Perfons  or  Actions,  by  all  that  is  before  us. 
GOD  was  pleafed  in  his  Sovereignty  to  give  fuch 
Succefs  to  Jacob  in  that,  which  from  Beginning 
to  End,  was  a  deceitful,  lying  Contrivance  and 
Proceeding  of  his,  that  in  that  Way,  he  obtained 
that  Blefling  that  was  worth  infinitely  more  than 
the  Fatnefs  of  the  Earth,  and  the  Dew  of  Heaven, 
that  was  given  to  Efau^  in  his  BlejQing-,  yea  worth 
more  than  all  that  the  World  can  afford.  GOD 
was  for  a  while  with  Judas ^  fo  that  he  by  GOD's 
Power  accompanying  him,  v/rought  Miracles  and 
caft  out  Devils  ;  but  this  could  not  juftly  be  in- 
terpreted as  GOD's  Approbation  of  hisPerfon,  or 
his  Thievery,  that  he  lived  in  at  the  fame  Time. 

Tlie  Difpenfations  and  Events  of  Providence,  [ 
with  their  Reafons,  are.  too  little  underftood  by  j^ 
tis,  to  be  improved  by  us  as  our  Rule,  inftead  of  f 
GOD's  Word  ;  God  has  his  JVay  in  the  Sia,  and  < 
'his  Path  in  the  mighty  fVaiers^  and  his  Fcotjhps  are  i 
not  known  ^  and  he  gives  us  no  Account  of  any  of  his  \ 
Mattel's  ;  and  therefore  we  can't  fafely  take  the  r 
Events  of  his  Providence  as  a  Revelation  of  his  \j 
Mind  concerning  a  Perfon's  Condud  and  Beha- 
Hriour,  we  have  no  Warrant  fo  to  do,  GOD  has  ' 
never  appointed  thofe  Thing?^,  but  fomething  elfe 
to  be  our  Rule  ;  we  have  but  one  Rule  to  go  by, 
and  that  is  his  holy  Word,  and  when  we  join  any 
Thing  elfe  with  it  as  having  the  Force  of  a  Rule, 

we 


2^S       Providence  not  eiir  Rule.      Pa.  IV. 


we  are  guilty  of  that  which  is  ftri6tly  forbidden, 
Deut,  4.  2.  Prov,  30.  6.  &  Rev.  22.  iS.  They 
who  make  what  they  imagine  is  pointed  forth  to 
'em  in  Providence,  their  Rule  of  Behaviour,  do 
err,  as  well  as  thofe  that  follow  Impulfes  and  Im- 
preiTions  :  We  ftiould  put  nothing  in  the  Room 
of  th€  Word  of  God.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  fomc 
have  been  greatly  confirmed  and  emboldened  by 
the  great  Succefs  that  God  has  given  them,  in 
fome  Things  that  have  really  been  contrary  to  the 
Rules  of  poD's  holy  Word.  If  it  has  been  fo, 
they  have  been  guilty  of  Prefumption,  and  abufmg 
God's  Kindnefs  to  them, and  the  great  Honour  he 
lias  put  upon  them  :  They  have  feen  that  God 
was  with  them,  and  made  them  victorious  in  their  . 
Preaching ;  and  this  it  is  to  be  feared  has  been 
abufed  by  fome  to  a  Degree  of  Self-confidence  ; 
it  has  much  taken  off  all  Jealoufy  of  thcmfelvcs  ; 
they  have  been  bold  therefore  to  go  great  Lengths^ 
in  a  Prefumption  that  GOD  was  with  them,  and 
woMld  defend  them,  &  finally  baffle  all  that  found 
Fault  with  them. 

Indeed  there  is  a  Voice  of  GOD  in  his  Provi- 
dence, that  may  be  interpreted  and  well  under- 
does! by  the  Rule  of  his  Word  ;  and  Providence 
may  to  our  dark  Minds  and  weak  Faith,  confirm 
the  Word  of  GOD,  as  it  fulfils  it :  But  to  im- 
prove divine  Providence  thus,  is  quite  a  different 
Thing  from  mak-ing  a-Rule  of  Providence.  There 
is  a  good  Ufe  may  be  mack  of  the  Ev^ents  of  Pro-^ 
vidcn:e,  of  our  own  Obfervation  and  Experience, 
and  human  Hiftories,  and  the  Opinion  of  the  Fa- 
thers, &  other  eminent  Men  ;  but  finally  all  muft 


PJV.  "Time  of  inward  Comforts  no  Rule.  259 

be  brought  to  one  Ruhy  viz.  the  Word  of  GOD, 
>aiid  that  muft  be  regarded  as  our  oiily^  Rule. 

Nor  do  I  think  that  they  go  upon  lure  Ground, 
that  conclude  that  they  have  not  been  In  an  Error 
in  their  Condua,  becaufe  that  at  the  Time  of  their 
doing  a  Thing,  for  which  tkey  have  been  blamed 
and  reproached  by  others,  they  were  favoured  with 
fpccial  Comforts  of  God's  Spirk.  >  God's  be- 
Itowing  fpecial  fpiritual  Mercies  on  a  Perfon  at 
fuch.a  Time,  is  no  Sign  that  he  approves  of  every 
Thing  that  he  fees  in  him  at  that  Time.  David 
had  very  much  of  the  Prefence  of  God  while  he 
lived  in  Polygamy  :  And  Solomon  hdid  fome  very 
^  high  Favours,  and  peculiar  Smiles  of  Heaven,  and 
■  particularly  at  the  Dedfcationof  the  Temple,  v/hiie 
he  greatly  multiplied  Wives  to  himfdf,  and  Hor- 
fes,  2nd  Silver  and  Gold  ^  all  contrary  to  the  mc-ft 
exprefe  Command  of  GOD  to  the  King,  in  the 
Law  oi Mofes^  Deut.  17.  16,  17.  We  can't  tell 
how  far  GOD  may  hide  his  Eyes  from  beholding 
Iniquity  in  Jacobs  and  feeing  Perverfenefs  in  Ifrad. 
'  We  can't  tell  what  are  the  Reafons  of  GOD's 
'  Adlions  any  further  than  he  interprets  for  hi;nfelf. 
GOD  fometimesgave  fome  of  the  primitive  Chri- 
ftians,  the  extraordinary  Influence  of  his  Spirit, 
when  they  were  out  of  the  Way  of  their  Duty  ; 
and  continued  it,  while  they  were  abufing  it  3  as 
is  plainly  implied,    i  Cor.  14.  31,  32,  33. 

Yea,  if  a  Perfon  has  done  a  Thing  for  which  he 
is  reproached,  and  that  Reproach  be  an  Occafion 
of  his  feeling  fweet  Exercifes  of  Grace  in  his  Soul, 
and  that  from  Time  to  Time,  I  don't  think  that 
is  a  certain  Evidence  that  GOD  approves  cf  the 
Z       .  Thue 


26o  ^ime of  inward  Contforts  no  Ruie.  P.IV. 

Thing  he  is  blamed  for.     For  undoubtedly   a 
Miftake  may  be  theOccafion  offlirringup  the  Ex- 
ercife  of  Grace,  in  a  Man  that  has  Grace-     If  a 
Perfon,  through  Miftake,  thinks  he  has  received 
fome  particular  great  Mercy,  that  Miftake  may 
fee  the  Occafion  of  ftirring  up  the  fweet  Exercifes 
ef  Love  to  GOD,  and  true  Thankfulnefs  and  Joy 
in  GOD.     As  for  Inftance,  if  one  that  is  fuU  of 
Love  to  GOD  fliould  hear  credibje  Tidings,  con- 
cerning a  remarkable  Deliverance  of  a  Child,  or 
other  dear  Friend,  or  of  fome  glorious  Thing  done 
for  the  City  of  GOD,  no  Wonder  if,  iDii  fuch  an 
Occafion,  the  fweet  Aftings  of  Love  to  GOD, 
and  Delight  in  GOD  fhould  be  excited,  dio'  in- 
deed afterwards  it  fhould  prove  a  felfe  Report  that . 
he  heard.     So  if  one  that  loves  GOD,  is.  much 
maligned  and  reproached  for  doing  that  which  he 
thinks  GOD  required  and  approves,  no  Wonder 
that  it  is  fwe^  to  fuch  an  one  to  think  that  GOD 
is  his  Friend,  tho'  Men  are  his  Enemies  ;  no  Won^' 
der  at  all,  that  this  is  an  Occafion  of  his,  as  it  were, 
leaving  the  World,  and  fweetly  betaking  himfelf 
to  GOD,  as  his  fure  Friend,  and  finding  fweet 
Complacence  in  GOD  ;    tho'  he  be  indeed  in  a 
Miftake,  concerning  that  wJiich  he  thought  was 
agreeable  to  GOD's  Will.  As  I  have  before  (hewn 
that  the  Exercife  of  a  truly  good  AfFeftion,  may 
be  the  Occafion  of  Error,  and  may  indire<5>ly  m- 
cline  a  Perfon  to  do  that  whkh  is  wrong  ;  .fo  on 
,  the  other  Hand,  Error,  or  a  doing  that  which  is 
'  wrong,  may  be  an  Occafion  of  the  Exercife  of  a 
truly  good  AfFedion.     The  Reafon  of  it  is  this, 
that  however  all  Exercifes  of  Grace  be  from  the 

Spirit 


T 


[Pa,  IV.     Concerning  external  Order.      261 

Ispirit  of  GOD,  yet  the  Spirit  of  GOD  dwells  and 
ladls  in  the  Hearts  of  the  Saints,  in  fome  Meafure 
[after  the  Manner  of  a  vital,  natural  Principle,  a 
[Principle  of  new  Nature  in  them  5  whofe  Exer- 
crfes  are  excited  by  Means,  in  fome  Meafure  as 
other  natural  Principles  are.     Tho'  Grace  ben't 
in  the  Saints,  as  a  meer  natural  Principle^  but  as  a 
fovereign  Agent,  and  fo  its  Exercifes  are  not  tied 
io  Means ^  by  an  immutable  Law  of  Nature,  as  in 
meer  natural  Principles  ;  yet  GOD  has  fo  confti- 
tuted,  that  Grace  fhould  dwell  fo  in  the  Hearts  of 
the  Saints,  that  its  Exercifes  fhould  have  fome 
Degree  of  Connexion  withMeans,  after  the  Man- 
ner of  a  Principle  of  Nature. 

Another  erroneous  Principle  that  there  has  been 
fomething  of,  and  that  has  been  an  Occafion  of 
fome  Mik:hief«nd  Confuffon,  is  that  extei'nal'Or^ 
der  in  Matters  of  Religion,  and  Ufe  of  the  Means 
of  Grace,  is  but  little  to  be  regarded  :  ^Tis  fpoken 
%htly  of,  under  the  Names  of  Ceremonies  &  dead 
Forms,  ^c.  And  is  probably  the  more  defpifed  by 
fome  becaufe  their  Oppofers  infift  fo  much  upon 
it,  and  becaufe  they  arefo  continually  hearing  from 

^hem  the  Cry  of  Diforder  and  Confufion. 'Tis 

objected  againft  the  Importance  of  external  Order 
that  GOD  don't  look  at  the  outward  Form,  he 
looks  at  the  Heart  :  But  that  is  a  weak  Argument 
againft  its  Importance,  that  true  Godlinefs  don't 
confift  in  it ;  for  it  may  be  equally  made  Ufe  of 
againft  all- the  outward  Means  of  Grace  whatfc- 
ever.  True  Godlinefs  don't  confift  in  Ink  and 
Paper,  but  yet  that  would  be  a  foolifh  Objeftion 
againft  the  Importance  of  Ink  and  Paper/ia  Reli- 
Z  a.-  gion, 


262      Concerning  external  Or^er.     Pa.'  TV;  ' 

gion,  when  without  it  we  could  not  nave  the  Word w^ 
of  GOD.  If  any  external  Means  at  all  are 'need-, 
fjul,  any  outward  Alliens  of  a  publick  Nature,  or- 
wherein  GOD's  People  are  jointly  concerned  in* 
publick  Society,  without  Doubt  external  Or;ler  is 
needful:  The  Management  of  an  external  AfFair 
that  is  publick,  or  wherein  a  Multitude^. is.  con-, 
rerned  without  Order,  is  in  every  Thir;g  found 
jnpoffible.  Without  Order  there  can  be  no  ge- 
neral DirecSiion  of  a.  Multitude  to.  any  particular, 
defigned  End,  their  P-urpofes  will  crofs  one  ano-. 
ther,  and  they  won't  help  but  hinder  one  another. 
A  Multitude  can't  a6l  in  Union  one  with  another 
"without  Order  j  Confulion  fe para tes  and  divides 
them,  fo  that  there  can  be  no  Concert  or  Agree-^  ^ 
m^nt*  If  a  Multitude  would  help^one  another  ii^ 
any  AfFair,  they  muft  unite  themfelves  one  to  ano- 
ther in  a  regular  Subordination  of  Members,  irf 
fome  Meafure  as  it  is  in  the  natural  Body  ;  by  this 
Means  they  v/ill  be  in  fome  Capacity  to  aft  with 
united  Strength  :  And  thus  Christ  ha?  appointed 
that  it  fhould  be  in  the  vifible  Church,  as  i  Cor.^ 
12.  14.  to  the  End,  and  Rom.  J2.  4,  5,  65  7,  8, 
Zeal  without  Order  will  do  but  little,  or  at  leaft  it 
vnlj  be  efFedlual  but  a  little  while.  Let  a  Com- 
pany that  are  very  zealous  againft  the  Enemy,  ga 
forth  to  War,  without  any  Manner  of  Order, 
every  one  rufning  forward  as  bis  Zeal  fhall  drive 
h:m,  all  in  Confufion,'  if  they  gain  fomething  at 
nrft  Onfet,  by  furprizing  the  Enemy,  yet  how 
foon  do  they  come  to  nothing,  and  fall  an  eafy 
helplefs  Prey  to  their  Adverfaries  ?  Order  is  oac 
of  the  moft  neceflary  of  all  external  Means  of  the 

fpirltual 


P;  IV.    Of  external  Order  in  Rtligicn.     263 

fpiritual  Good  of  God's  Church;  and  therefore 
It  is  requifite  even  in  Heaven  it  felf,  where  there 
is  the  leaft  Need  of  any  external  Means  of  Grace  ; 
Order  is  maintained  amongft  the  glorious  Angels 
there.     And  the  Neceffity  of  it  in  order  to  the 
carrying  on  any  Defign,  wherein  a  Multitude  are 
concerned,  is  fo  great^  that  even  the  Devib  in  Hell 
are  driven  to  fomething  of  It,  that  they  may  carry 
on  the  Defigns  of  their  Kingdom.     And  '^tis  very 
obfervable,  that  thofe  Kinds  of  irrational  Creatures, 
for  whom  it  is  needful  that  they  fhould  a£l  in  Uni- 
on and  join  a  Multitude  together,  to  carry  on  any 
Work  for  their  Prefervation,  they  do  by  a  won- 
.  derful  Inftinft  that  God  has  put  into  them,  ob- 
lerve  and  maintain  a  moff  regular  and  exaft  Order 
among  themfelves  \  fuch  as  Bees  and  fome  others.. 
And  Order  inthevifible  Church  is  not  only  necef- 
fary  to  the  carr)'ing  on  the  Defigns  of  Christ's 
Glory  and  the  Church's  Profperity,.  but  it  is  abfo- 
lutely  neceffary  to  its  Defence  j  without  it,  it^s 
like  a  City  without  Walls,  and  can  be  in  no  Ca^. 
pacity  to  defend  it  felf  from  any  Kind  of  Mifchief: 
And  fo  however  it  be  an  external  Thing,  yet  is  not. 
to  be  defpifed  on  that  Account ;    for  tho'  it  ben'L 
the  Food  of  Souls,  yet  it  is  in  fome  Refpeft  their 
Defence.~-The  People  oi  Holland  vfo\x\6.  be  very 
fbolifh  to  defpife  the  Dikes  that  keep  out  the  Sea 
from  overwhelming  them,under  the  Names  of  jdead 
Stones  and  vile  Earthy  becaufe  the  Matter  of  which 
they  are  built  is  not  good  to  eat* 

It  feems  to  be  partly  on  the  Foundation  o£  this 

Notion  of  the  Worthlefnefs  of  external  Order,that 

feme  have  feem'd  to  aft  on  that  Principle,  that  the 

Z  3  ?gwe^ 


'  2^4     Ab fence  from  Family  Werfhip,     P.F/. 

Power  of  judging  &  openly  cenfuring  others  fhould 
not  be  referved  in  the  Hands  of  particular  Perfons, 
or  Confiftories  appointed  thereto,  but  ought  to  be 
left  at  large,  for  any  Body  that  pleafes  to  take  it 
upon  them,  or  that  think  themfelves  fit  for  it ; 
But  more  of  this  afterwards — 

On  this  Foundation  alfo,  an  orderly  attending 
ontheftated  Worfhip  of  God  in  Families,  has 
been  made  too  light  of;  and  it  has  been  in  fome 
Places  too  much  of  a  common  &  cuftcTmary Thing 
to  be  abfent  from  Family  Worfhip,  &  to  be  abroad 
late  in  the  Night  at  religious  Meetings,  or  to  at- 
tend religious  Converfation.  Not  but  that  thi^ 
ipay  be,  on  certain  extraordinary  Occafions  ;  I 
have  feen  the  Cafe  to  be  fuch  in  many  Inftances, 
that  I  have  tliought  did  afford  fufficient  Warrant 
for  Perfons  to  be  abfent  from  Family  Prayer,  and 
to  be  from  Home  'till  very  late  in  the  Night :  But 
we  fhould  take  Heed  that  this  don't  become  a  Cuf- 
tom  or  common  Pradtice  ;  if  it  fliould  be  io^  we 
(hall  foon  find  the  Confequences  to  be  very  ill. 

It  feems  tg  be  on  the  feme  Foundation,  of  the 
fuppofed  Unprofitablenefs  of  external' Order,  that 
it  has  been  thought  by  fome,  that  there  is  no  Need 
that  fuch  and  fuch  religious  Services  and  Perfor- 
mances fhould  be  limited  to  any  certain  Office  in 
the  Church  ;   (of  which  more  afterwards.)     And 
alfo  that  thofe  Offices  themfelves,  as  particularly 
that  of  the  Gofpel-Miniflry^  need  not  be  limited 
,  as  it  ufed  to  be,  to  Perfons  of  a  liberalEducation  ; 
I  but  fome  of  late  have  been  for  having  others  that 
\  they  have  fuppofed  to  be  Perfons  of  eminent  Ex- 
[  p^rieace,  publickly  licenftd  to  preach,  yea  and  or- 
dained 


P.IV.  Licenftng  unlearned Mento preach,  265 

dained  to  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry  ;  and  fome 
Miniflers  have  feemM  to  favour  fuch  a  Thing : 
But  how  little  do  they  feem  to  look  forw^ard,  and 
confider  the  unavoidable  Confequences  of  opening 
fuch  a  Door  ?  If  once  it  fhould  become  a  Cuiiom, 
or  a  Thing  generally  approved  and  allowed  of,  to 
admit  Perfbns  to  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry  that 
have  had  no  Education  for  it,  becaufe  of  their  re- 
markable Experiences,  and  being  Per  fens  of  good 
Underftanding,  how  many  Lay-Perfons  would  foon 
appear  as  Candidates  for  the  Work  of  the  Mini- 
ftry ?  I  doubt  notbut  that  Ihave  been  acquainted 
with  Scores  that  would  have  defired  it.  And  how 
fiiall  we  know  where  to  flop  ?  If  one  is  admitted 
becaufe  his  Experiences  are  remarkable,  another 
will  think  his  Experiences  alfo  remarkable ;  and 
we  perhaps,  fhall  not  be  able  to  deny  but  that  they 
are  near  as  great :  If  one  is  admitted  becaufe  be- 
fides  Experiences,  he  has  good  natural  Abilities^ 
another  by  himfelf,  and  many  of  his  Neighbours, 
lilay  be  thought  equal  to  him.  It  will  be  found  of 
aWblute  Neceffity  that  there  fhould  be  fome  cer* 
tain,  vifible  Limits  fixed,  to  avoid  bringing  Odium 
upon  ourfelves,  and  breeding  Uneafmefs  and  Strife 
ahiongft  others  ;  and  I  know  of  none  better,  and 
indeed  no  other  that  can  well  be  fix*d,  than  thofe 
that  the  Prophet  Zechariah  fixes,  viz.  That  thofe 
only  fhould  be  appointed  to  be  Paftors  or  Shep- 
herds in  God's  Church,  that  have  been  taught  to 
keep  Cattle  from'  their  Youth\  or  that  have  had  an 
Education  fcr^hat  Purpofe.  Thofe  Miniflers  that 
have  a  Dilpofkibn  to  break  over  thefe  Limits^  \% 
tt^y  fhouM  do  fb^  aiid  malice  a  Pradice  of  it,  wotiM- 

break 


266  Of  tifing  the  Slyte  of         Pa.  IV^ 

break  down  that  Fenc^,  whidi  they  themfeh^es 
after  a  while,  after  they  have  been  wearied  with 
the  ill  Confequences,  would  be  glad  to  have  fome 
Body  elfe  build  up  for  them.  Not  but  that  there 
may  probably  be  fome  Perfons  in  the  Land,  that 
have  had  no  Education  at  College,  that  are  in  them- 
felves  better  qualified  for  the  Work  of  the  Mini- 
firy  than  fome  others  that  have  taken  their  De- 
grees, and  are  now  ordained.  But  yet  I  believe 
the  breaking  over  thofe  Rounds  that  have  hitherto 
been  fet,  in  ordaining  fuch  Perfons,  would  in  its 
Confequences  be  a  greater  Calamity^  than  the 
miffing  fuch  Perfons  in  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry. 
The  opening  a  Door  for  the  Admiffion  of  unlearn- 
ed Men  to  the  Work  of  the  Minlfiry,,  tho'  they 
fhould  be  Perfons  of  extraordinary  Experience,, 
wguld  on  fome  Accounts  be  efpecially  prejudicial 
at  fuch  a  Day  as  this  ;  becaufe  fuch  Perfons,  for 
want  of  an  extenfive  Knowledge,,  are  oftentimes 
forwar-d  to  lead  others  into  thofe  Things,  which  a 
People  are  in  Danger  of  at  fuch  a  Time,  above  all 
Qther  Times,  viz,  Impulfes,  vain  Imaginations, 
Superftition,  indifcreet  Zeal,  and  fuch  like  Ex- 
tremes ;  inftead  of  defending  them  from  them, 
for  which  a  People  efpecially  need  a  Shepherd,  at 
fuch  an  extraordinary  Seafon. 

Another  erroneous  Principle  that  it  feems  to  me 
fome  have  been,  at  leaft,  in  panger  of,  is,  that 
idinifters,  becaufe  they  fpeak  as  CaRisx's  Am- 
bafladors,  may  affume  the  fame^ Style,  and  fpeak  as 
with  the  fame  Authority  that  the  Prophets  of  old' 
did,. yea  that  Jesus  Christ  himfelf  fljd  in  the 
23d  of  Matthew,  Te  Serpents^  ye  Gernration  ofVi- 


Fa .IV.        Chriji  and  the  Prophets.  267 

pers^  &c.  and  other  Places  ;  and  that  not  only 
when  they  arc  fpeaking  to  the  People,  but  alfo  to 
their  Brethren  in  the  Miiiiftry^     Which  Prirxiple 
i^  abrurd,.  becaufe  it  makes  no  Difference  in  the- 
different  Degrees  and  OrJers  ofMeflengers  that. 
Go  p..  has  fent  into  the  World,  tho'  God  has  made, 
a,  very  gieat  Difference  :   For  tlVo'  they  all  come* 
in  romc*Rerpc6l  in  the  Name  of  God,  and  with, 
lomethingof  his  AuthoritvV  yet  certainly  there  is. 
:{,\7i\x  Difference  in- the  Degree  offApthority  with 
whichGoD  has  invelted  theihr   'Jesus  Christ. 
was  one  that  w^s  fcnt  into  tlie  World  as  Gap's* 
Meffenger,  and  fo  was  one  of  his  Apcftles^and  fo 
alfo  is  aiVbrdiriary  Paftor  of  a  Church  ;   but  yet  it. 
doji't  follow,  that  becaufe  Jesus  Christ  andean 
ordinary  MiniPcer  are  both  McfTengers  cf  Go 6^^ 
that  therefore  z\  ordinary  Minifrer  in  his  Offiire, ' 
is  Vefted  with  an  equal  Decree  of  Authority,  that 
Christ  was,  in  bb.     As  there  is-a  great  Diffe- 
rence in  their  Aurhority,  and  as  Christ  came  as^ 
God's  Meffenger.  in  a  v aft ly  higher  Manner,  fo. 
another  Style  became  him,  more  authoritative  than^ 
is  proper  for  usWorms  of  the  Duft,  tho'  we  alfd' 
are  Meffengers  ofinferrbur  Degree.     It  would  be. 
Itrange  if  God, when  he  has  made  fo  greata  Dif^' 
ference  iirthe  Degree,  in  v/bichhehas  inveifed  dif- 
ferent A^effengcjs  wiihbis  Authority,  ftiouKi  make- 
no  Difference  as  to  the  outVv-ard  A^ppearance  and* 
Shcvv'  of  Authority,  in  Stvlc  aud  Behaviour, which 
is  proper  and  fit  to  be  feen* in  them.     Tho'  God^ 
has  put  greatH6nourupon  Minifi-ers,and  they  may 
ipeak  as  his  Ambaffadors,  yet  he  never  intended 
tliat  they  fnould  have  the  fameOutv/ard-Appcarance 

af. 


26 S      Of  corrupt  Mixtures  in  the     Pa.  IV. 

of  Authority  and  Majefty,  either  in  their  Behavi- 
our or  Speech,  that  his  Son  fliall  have,  when  he 
comes  to  Judgment,  at  the  laft  Day  j  tho*  both 
come,  in  diiferent  Refpedls  and  Degrees,  in  the 
Name  of  the  Lord  :  Alas  !  Can  any  7"hing  ever 
make  it  enter  into  the  Hearts  cf  XVorms  of  the 
Duft,  that  it  is  fit  aiid  fuitable  that  it  fhould  be  fo  ? 

Thus  I  have  ccnftdered  the  two  firft  of  thofe 
three  Caufes  of  Error  in  Conduft  that  were  men- 
tionM  ;  I  come  now  to  the 

Third  and  laft  Caufe  of  the  Errors  of  thofe  that 
have  appeared  to  be  tliC  Subjects  or  zealous  Pro-i 
meters  of  this  Work,  viz,  a  being  ignorant  or  un- 
ohfervant  of  fome  particular  Things,  by  which  the 
Devil  has  fpecial  Advantage. 

And  here  I  would  oarticularlv  take  Notice  i. 

Of  fome  Tilings  whh  Refpedl  to  the  inward  Ex* 
periences  of  Chi  iftians  thejr^felves.  And  2.  Some- 
thing with  Regard  to  the  external  Effects  of  Ex- 
periences. 

There  are  three  Things  I  would  take  Notice  of 
.vith  Regard  to  the  Experiences  of  Chriftians,  by     4 
,vhich  the  Devil  has  many  Advantages  againft  us. 

I.  The  iirft  Thing  is  the  Mixture  there  often- 
rimes  is  in  the  Experiences  of  true  Chriftians  j 
v/hereby  when  they  have  truly  gracious  Experi- 
ences, and  divine  and  fpiritual  Difcoveriesand  Ex- 
r.iles,  they  have  fumething  clfe  mixM  with  them, 
cfides  what  h  fpirirual :  There  is  a  Mixture  of 
Jiat  which  is  natural^  and  that  v/hich  is  corrupt, 
\vith  that  v/hich  is  divine.  This  is  wh^t  Chrifti-, 
ms  are  liable  to  in  the  prefent  exceedi^  imperfei 
Mtc  :  The  great  ImperJSeclion  of  Grace,  and  Fee*  " 

hlenefi 


P A  .IV .       Experiences  of  Chrijlians.        2  6^ 

blenefs  and  Infancy  of  the  new  Nature,  and  the 
:great  Remains  of  Corruption,  together  with  the 
■i^ircumftances  we  are  in  in  this  World,  where  we 
are  encompafTed  all  round  with  what  tends  to  pol- 
lute us,  expofes  to  this.  And  indeed  it  is  not  to 
be  fuppofed  that  Chriftians  ever  have  any  Experi- 
ences in  this  World  that  are  wholly  pure,  entirely 
fpiritual,  without  any  Mixture  of  what  is  natural 
and  carnal :  The  Beam  of  Light,  as  it  comes  from 
the  P'ountain  of  Light  upon  our  Hearts,  is  pure, 
but  ?s  it  is  reflected  thence,  it  is  mixt :  The  Seed 
as  fent  from  Heaven  and  planted  m  the  Heart,  is 
pure,  but  as  it  (prings  up  out  of  the  Heart,  is  im- 
pure ;  yea  there  is  commonly  a  much  greaterMix- 
ture,  than  Perfons  for  the  moft  Part  km  to  have 
any  Imagination  of  ;  I  have  often  thought  that  the 
Experiences  of  true  Chriftians  are  very  frequently 
as  it  is  with  fome  Sorts  pf  Fruits,  that  are  invelop'd 
in  feveral  Coverings  of  thick  Shells  or  Pods,  that 
are  thrown  away  by  him  that  gathe/s  the  Fruit, 
and  but  a  very  finall  Part  of  the  whole  Bulk  is  the 
pure  Kernel,  that  is  good  to  eat. 

The  Things,  of  all  which  there  is  frequently 
fome  Mixture  with  gracious  Experiences,  yea  with 
very  great  and  high  Experiences,  are  thefe  three, 
Human^  or  natural  Affe^iion  and  PaJJion  ;  ImpreJJi- 
ons  on  the  Imagiyiation  ;  and  a  Degree  of  Self-rigb- 
ieoiifnefs  ox  fpiritual  Pride,  There  is  very  often 
with  that  which  is  fpiritual  a  great  Mixture  of  that 
^  AfFeftion  or  Paflion  which  arifes  from  natural 
Principles  ;  fo  that  Nature  has  a  very  great  Hand 
in  thofe  vehement  Motions  and  Flights  of  the  Paf- 
iions  that  appear.     Hence  the  fame  Degrees  of 

divine 


^yo       Mixtures  in  Experiences.      Pa.  1Y. 

divine  Comm«jnicaticiis  from  Heaven,  fhall  have 
vaftly  diiFcrent  Eff^cS];?,   in   wha'^ /outward Iv  ap- 
pears, iir  Pci  Ions  of'clTjfFcicnt  iiatural  Tempers,  j 
The  great  Mixture  of  that  which  j^  natural Wr4  I 
that  which  is  fpiritual,  is  very  manifeft  in  the  pe- 
culiar EiFects  that  divine  Influences,  have  In  fiinic 
.certain  Families,  or  Perfpnsbf  fuch  a  Blood,  la  a 
•  diftinguifhing  Manner  of  the  operating  of  thefaf- 
\i\Qm  and  Affedions,  and  the  Manner  of  the '.ddt- 
ward  Exprefiions  of  'em.     I  know  fome  renlarka- 
Die  Inflances  of  this.    "The  fame  is  alfo  evident  bv 
the  difFcrent  Effects  of  divine  Communications  on 
the  fam^  Pcrfon  at  difterent  Times,  and  in  diffe- 
rent Ci/curhftances::  TheNovdty  of  Things,  cr 
tlie  fudden  Tranfitioii  from  an  oppofite  E^^treme, 
.uid  many  other  Things  that  might  be  mentioned, 
greatly  coiitribute  'to  the  ralfing'  of  the  Pailioirs. 
And  fometimes  there  is  not  only  a  Mixture  of  that 
/vhich  is  common  and  natural  with  gracious  Ex- 
;^crience,  but  even  that  which  is  animal,  that  which 
:s  inagreat'Meafure  from,theBody,  and  is  pro- 
perly the  Refult  of  the  animal  Frame.     In  what 
true  Chriftians  feel  of  AftecSlions  towards  God, 
all  15  not  always  purely  holy  arid  divine ;  every 
Thing  that  is  felt  in  the  Affeftions  don't  arife  from 
fpiritual  Principles,  but  common  and  natural  Prin- 
ciples have  a  very  great  Hand  4  an  improper  Self-  ; 
Love  may  have  a  great  Share  in  the  Effect :  God 
is  not  loved  for  his  own  Sake,  or  for  the  Excellency- 
and  Beauty  of  his  own  Perfections  as  he  ought  to 
be  y  nor  have  thefe  Things  in  any  wife,  that  Pro- 
portion in  the  Effedt  that  they  ought  to  have.     So 
in  that  Love  that  true  Chriftians  have  one  to  ano- 
ther^ 


Pa.  IV.      Mixtures  in  E:<periences.       271 

ther,  very  often  there  is  a  great  Mixture  of  what 
arifes  from  common  and  natural  Principles^  with 
Grace ;  &  Self- Love  has  a  great  Hand  :  The  Chil- 
dren of  God  ben't  loved  purely  for  Chrift's  Sake, 
but  there  may  be  a  great  Mixture  of  that  natural 
Love  that  many  Se£ts  of  Hereticks  have  boafted  of, 
w^ho  have  been  greatly  united  one  to  another,  be- 
caufe  they  were  of  their  Company,  on  their  :'itie, 
againft  the  reft  of  the  World  ;  yea,  there  may  be 
a  Mixture  of  natural  Love  to  the  oppofite  Sex, 
with  Chriftian  and  divine  Lcve.  So  there  may  he 
a  great  Mixture  in  that  Sorrow  for  Sin  that  the 
godly  have  ;  and  alfo  in  their  Joys  ;  natural  Prin- 
ciples may  greatly  contribute  to  what  is  felt,  a 
great  many  V/ays.  as  might  eafily  be  fhown,  would 
it  not  make  my  Difcourfe  too  lengthy.  There  is 
nothing  that  belongs  to  Chriftian  Experience  that 
is  more  liable  to  a  corrupt  Mi^cture  than  Zeal ; 
tho'  it  be  an  excellent  Virtue,  a  heavenly  Flame, 
when  it  is  pure  :  but  as  it  is  exercifed  in  thofe  who 
are  fo  little  fanaified,  and  fo  little  humbled,  as  we 
are  in  the  prefent  State,^tis  very  apt  to  be  mix'd 
with  human  Paffion,  yea  with  corrupt  hateful 
AftecSlions,  Pride  and  uncharitable  Bitternefs,  and 
other  Things  that  are  not  from  Heaven  but  from 
Hell. 

Another  Thing  that  is  often  mixed  with  what 
is  fpiritual  in  theExperiences  of  Chriftians,are,Lm- 
preffions  on  the  Lnagination  ;  whereby  godlvPer- 
fons,  together  with  a  fpiritual  underftandlqg  of  di- 
vine Things,  and  Conviftion  of  their  Reality  and 
-Certainty,  and  a  ftrong  and  deep  Senfe  of  their 
Excellency  or  great  Importance  upon  their  Hearts^ 

n 


272       Mixtures  in  Experiences.       Pa.  IV. 

have  ftrongly  imprefs'd  on  their  Minds  external 
Ideas  or  Images  of  Things.  A  Degree  of  Imagi- 
nation in  fuch  a  Cafe,  as  I  haveobferv'd  elfewhere, 
is  unavoidable,  and  neceflarily  arifes  from  human 
Nature,  as  conftituted  in  tht  prefent  State  ;  and  a 
Degree  of  Imagination  is  really  ufeful,  and  often  is 
of  great  Benefit ;  but  when  it  is  in  too  great  a  De- 
gree it  becomes  an  impure  Mixture  that  is  preju 
dicial.  This  Mixture  very  often  arifes  from  the 
Conftitution  of  the  Body.  It  commonly  greatly 
contributes  to  the  other  Kind  of  Mixture  menti- 
oned before,  vix.  of  natural  AfFe£tions  &  Paffions ; 
it  helps  to  raife  them  to  a  great  Height. 

Another  Thing  that  is  often  mix'd  with  the  Ex- 
periences of  true  Chriftians,  which  is  the  worft 
Mixture  of  all,  is  a  Degree  of  Self-righteoufnefs 
or  fpiritual  Pride.  This  is  often  mix'd  with  the 
Joys  of  Chriftians  ;  the  Joy  that  they  have  is  not 
purely  the  Joy  of  Faith,  or  a  Rejoicing  in  Chnft 
Jefus,  but  is  partly  a  rejoicing  in  themfelves ; 
There  is  oftentimes  in^ their  Elevations  a  looking 
upon  themfelves,  and  a  viewing  their  own  high 
Attainments  ;  they  rejoice  partly  becaufe  they  are 
taken  with  their  own  Experiences  and  great  Dif- 
coveries,  which  makes  'em  in  their  own  Appre- 
henfions  fo  to  excel  ;  and  this  heightens  all  theii 
Paffions,  and  efpecially  thofe  EfFefts  that  are  more 
External.  . 

There  is  a  much  grater  Mixture  of  thefe  Thing! 
in  the  Experiences  of  fome Chriftians  than  others; 
in  fome  the  Mixture  is  fo  great,  as  very  much  tc 
obfcure  and  hide  the  Beauty  of  Grace  in  them,  lik< 
a  thick  Smoke  that  hinders  all  the  Shining  of  th  , 
fire.  Theft  I 


P  A.IV.     Mixtures  in  high  Jffe£iions.       ij^ 

Thefe  Things  we  ought  to  be  well  aware  of, 
that  we  mayn't  take  all  for  Gold  that  glitters,  and 
that  we  may  know  what  to  countenance  and  en- 
courage, and  what  todifcourage  ;  otherwife  Satan 
will  have  a  vaft  Advantage   againft  us,    for  he 
works  in  the  corrupt  Mixture.      Sometimes  for 
want  of  Perfons  diftinguiihing  the  Oar  from  the 
pure  Metal,  thofe  Experiences  are  moft  admired 
by  the  Perfons  themfelves  that  are  the  Subjedb  of 
them,  and  by  others,  that  are  not  the  moft  excel- 
lent.    The  great  external  EfFe6ls,and  Vehemence 
of  the  Pailions,  &  violeat  Agitations  of  the  animal 
Spirits,  is  fometimes  much  owing  to  the  corrupt 
Mixture  j  (as  is  very  apparent  in  fome  Inftanccs) 
tho'  it  be  not  always  fo.     I  have  obferved  a  great 
Difference  among  thofe  that  are  under  high  Affec- 
tions, and  feem  difpofed  to  be  earneftly  talking  to 
thofe  that  are  about  them  ;  fome  infift  much  more, 
in  their  Talk,  on  what  they  behold  in  God  and 
Christ,  the  Glory  of  the  divine  Perfedlions, 
Christ's  Beauty  and  Excellency,  and  wonderful 
Condefcenfion  and  Grace,  and  their  own  Unwor*^ 
thinefs,  and  the  great  and  infinite  Obligations  that 
they  themfelves  and  others  are  under  to  love  and 
ferveGoD  ;  fome  iniiftalmoft  wholly  on  their  own 
high  Priviledges,  their  AlTurance  of  Gqd's  Love 
and  Favour,  and  the  Weaknefs  and  Wickednefs 
of  Oppofers,  and  how  much  they  are  above  their 
Reach.     The  latter  may  have  much  of  the  PrQ- 
lence  of  God,  but  their  Experiences  don't  appear 
to  be  fo  folid  and  unmix'd  as  the  former.     And 
there  is  a  great  deal  of  DitFerence  in  Perfons  Ear- 
neftnefs  in  their  Talk  and  Behaviour  j  in  fome  it 
A  a  2  feems 


2  74   0/  the  Deficiency  of  Experiences .  P .  I V . 

feems  to  come  indeed  from  the  Fulnefs  of  their 
Hearts,  and  from  the  great  Senfe  they  have  of 
Truth,  a  deep  Senfe  of  the  Certainty  and  infinite 
Greatnefs,  Excellency  and  Importance  of  divine 
and  eternal  Things,  attended  with  all  Appearances 
of  great  Humility ;  in  others  their  Earneftnefs 
feems  to  arife  from  a  great  Mixture  of  human  Paf- 
fion,  and  an  undue  and  intemperate  Agitation  of 
the  Spirits,  w^hich  appears  by  their  Earneftnefs  and 
Vehemence  not  being  proportion'd  to  the  Nature 
of  the  Subjeft  they  infifi:  on,  but  they  are  violent 
in  every  Thing  they  fay,  as  mucfi  when  tl^^ey  are 
talking  of  Things  of  fmaller  Importance,  as  when 
fpeaking  of  Things  of  greater  Weight.  I  have  feen 
it  thus  in  an  Inftance  or  two,  in  which  this  Vehe- 
mence at  length  iffued  in  Diftra6lion.  And  there 
have  been  fome  few  Inftances  of  a  more  extraordi- 
nary Nature  ftill,  even  of  Perfons  finding  them- 
ielves  difpofed  earneftly  to  talk  and  cry  out,  from 
an  unaccountable  Kindof  bodily  Preffure,  without 
any  extraordinary  View  of  any  Thing  in  their 
Minds,  or  Senfe  of  any  Thing  upon  their  Hearts  ; 
wherein  probably  there  was  the  immediate  Hand 
of  the  Devil. 

2.  Another  Thing  by  which  the  Devil  has  great 
Advantrge,  is,  the  unheeded  Defers  there  fome- 
times  are  in  the  Experiences  of  true  Ghriftians,  and 
thofe  high  AfFedlions  wherein  there  is  much  that 
is  truly  good. 

What  I  now  have  Refpeft  to  is  fomething  di- 
verfe  from  that  DefecSljOrlmperfedion  of  Degree, 
which  is  in  every  holy  Difpofition  and  Exercife  m 
this  Life,  in  the  beft  of  theSaiHts.     What  I  aim  r.t 


Pa. IV.    DefeSls  in  ExperienceSy  &c.     275 

is  Experiences  being  efpecially  defe£live  in  fome 
particular  Thing,  that  ought  to  be  in  them  j  which 
tho'  it  ben't  an  eflential  Defed,  or  fuch  a  Defeft 
as  is  in-  the  Experiences  of  Hypocrites,  which  ren- 
ders them  utterly  vain,  monftrous,  and  altogether 
abominable,  to  God,  yet  is  fuch  a  Defeat  as  maims 
and  deforms  the  Experience  i  the  Eflence  of  truly 
Chriflian  Experiences  is  not  wanting^  but  yet  that 
is  wanting  that  is  very  needful  in  order  to  the  pro- 
per Beauty  of  the  Image  of  Chrift  in  fuch  a  Perfon's 
Experiences  ;  but  Things  are  very  much  out  of  %  , 
due  Proportion:  There  is  indeed  much  of  fome 
Things,  but  at  the  fame  Time  there  is  fo  little  of 
fome  otter  Things  that  fhould  bear  a  Proportion, 
that  the  Defeft  very  much  deforms  the  Chriftian, 
and  is  truly  odious  in  the  Sight  of  God. 

What  I  obferved  before  was  fomething  that  de- 
foj-m'd  the  Chriftian,  as  it  was  too  much^  fomething 
mixM,  that  is  not  belonging  to  the  Chriftian  as 
fuch  i  what  I  fpeak  of  now  is  fomething  that  de- 
forms the  Chriftian  the  other  Way,  vi%.  By  their 
mi  h^ivi^  enough^  fomething  wanting,  that  does  be- 
long to  the  Chriftian  as  fuch :  The  one  deforms 
the  Chriftian  as  a  monftrous  Excrefcence,,  the 
other  as  thereby  thq  new  Creature  is  maimec^  and 
fome  Member  in  a  great  Meaifure  wanting,  or  fa 
fciall  and  withering  as  to  be  very  much  out  of  due 
Proportion.  This  is  another  fpiritual  Calamity 
that  the  Saints  are  liable  to  through  the  great  Im-  ' 
perfeaion of  Grace  in  thia  Life ;  likethe  Chicken, 
in  the  Egg,  in^the  beginning  of  its  Formatio%  ui 
which,  tho'  there  are  indeed  the  Rudiments  or 
Lineanients  of  all  the  Parts,  yet  fome  &w  Parts 
A  a  3  jtte  \ 


276      DefeSfs  in  the  Experiences     Pa,  IV, 

are  plain  to  be  feen,  when  others  are  hid,  fo  that 
without  a  Microfcope  it  appears  very  monftrous. 

When  this  Deficiency  &  Difproportion  is  great, 
as  fomctimes  it  is  in  real  Saints,  it  is  not  only  a 
great  Deformity  in  it  felf,  but  has  many  ill  Con- 
fequences ;  it  gives  the  Devil  great  Advantage, 
and  leaves  a  Door  open  for  Corruption,  &  expofes 
.  to  very  deformed  and  unlovely  Actions,  and  ifTues 
oftentimes  in  the  great  wounding  of  the  Soul. 

For  the  better  underftanding  of  this  Matter,  we 
may  obferve  that  God  in  the  Revelation  thajthe 
has  made  of  himfelf  to  the  World  by  JefusChrift, 
has  taken  Care  to  give  a  proportiona'ble  Manifefta- 
tion  of  two  Kinds  of  Excellencies  or  Perfeftionsof 
his  Nature,  viz.  Thofe  that  efpecially  tend  to  pof- 
fefs  us  with  Awe  and  Reverence,  and  to  fearch  and 
humble  us,  and  thofe  that  tend  to  win  and  draw 
and  encourage  us  :  By  the  cne^  he  appears  as  an 
infinitely  great,  pure,  holy  and  Heart-fearching 
Judge  ;  by  the  other ^  as  a  gentle  and  gracious  Fa- 
'  ther  and  a  loting  Friend  :  By  the  one  he  is  a  pure, 
fearching  &  burning  Flame  ;  by  the  other  a  fweet, 
refrefhing  Light*     Thefe  two  Kinds  of  Attributes 
are  as  it  were  admirably  tempered  together  in  the 
'  Revelation  of  the  Gofpel :  'There  is  a  proportion- 
able Manifeftationof  Jufliceand  Mercy,  Holinefs 
and  Grace,  Majefly  &  Gentlenefs,  Authorfty  and 
\  Condefcenfion.     God  hath  thus  ordered  that  his 
j  diverfe  Excellencies,  as  he  reveals  himfelf  fn  the 
'  Face  of  Jesuits  Christ,  fiwuJd  have  a  proportf- 
;  enable  Manifeflation,  herein  providing  forourNe- 
ceflities  ;  He  knew  it  to  be  of  great  Confequence 
\  that  cur  Apprehenfions  of  thefe  diverfe  Peift&ions 


Pa.  IV.  of  true  Chrijlians.  277 

of  his  Nature  fhould  be  duely  proportionM  one  tb' 
another  ;  a  Defeft  on  the  owq  Hand,  viz.  Having 
much  of  aDifcovery  of  his  Love  and  Grace,  with- 
out a  proportionable  Difcovery  of  his  aw^ful  Ma- 
jefty,  and  his  holy  and  fearching  Purity,  would 
tend  to  fpiritual  Pride,  carnal  Confidence  and  Pre- 
fumption  ;  and  a  Defeat  on  the  other  Hand,  viz. 
Having  much  of  a  Difcovery  of  his  holy  Majefty, 
without  a  proportionable  Difcovery  of  his  Grace, 
tends  to  Unbelief,  a  fmful  P'earfulnefs  and  Spirit 
of  Bondage  :  And  therefore  herein  chiefly  confifts 
thatDeficiency  of  Experiences  that  I  am  now  fpeak- 
ing  of.  The  Revelation  God  has  made  of  himftlf 
in  his  Word,  and  the  Provifion  made  for  our  fpi- 
ritual Welfare  in  the  Gofpel  is  perfeft,  but  yet  the 
a<Slual  Light  and  Communications  we  have,  are 
not  perfedt,  but  many  Ways  exceeding  imperfe£b 
and  maimed.  And  Experience  plainly  fhews  that 
Chriftians  may  have  high  Experiences  in  fome  Re- 
(pefts,  and  yet  their  Circumftances  may  be  un- 
happy in  this  Regard,  that  their  Experiences  and 
Difcoveries  are  no  more  general.  There  is  a 
great  Difference  among  Chriftians  in  this  Refped,. 
fbme  have  much  more  general  Difcoveries  than 
others,  who  are  upon  many  Accounts  the  mofl: 
amiable  Chriftians.  Chriftians  may  have  Expe- 
riences that  are  very  high,  and  yet  there  may  be 
very  much  of  this  Deficiency  and  Difproportion  : 
Tbeir  high  Experiences  are  truly  from  the  Spirit 
of  God,  but  Sin  comes  in  by  the  Defe<Sl ;  (as  in- 
deed all  Sin  is  origrrially  from  a  defedive,  priva- 
tive Caufe  ;)  and  in  fuch  a  Cafe  high  D^covcries, 
*t  the  (anic  Time  thatthrf  are  enjoyal,  majrbe^ 

sod 


278  D'fc^s  in  Experiences         Pa.  IV. 

and  fomctimes  are  the  Occafion,  or  Caufa  ftn^ 
qua  non  of  Sin  \  Sin  may  come  in  at  that  backDoor, 
the  Gap  that  is  left  open  \  as  fpiritual  Pride  often 
does:  And  many  Times  the  Spirit  of  Gob  is 
quenched  by  this  Means,  and  God  punifces  the 
Pride  and  Prefumption  that  rires,-by  bringing  fuch 
Darknefs,  and  fufFering  fuch  awful  Confequences 
and  horrid  Temptations,  as  are  enough  to  make 
one's  Hair  Ibnd  an  End  to  hear  them.  Chriftians 
therefore  fhould  diligently  obferve  their  own 
Hearts  as  to  this  Matter,  and  fhould  pray  to  God 
that  he  would  give  'em  Experiences  in  which  one 
Thing  may  bear  a  PropcTtion  to  another,  that 
God  may  be  honoured  and  their  Souls  edified 
thereby  j  and  Minifters  fhould  have  an  Eye  to 
this,  in  their  private  Dealings  with  the  Souls  of 
their  People.    • 

'Tis  chiefly  from  fuch  a  Defeft  of  Experiences 
that  fome  Things  have  arifen  that  have  been  pret- 
ty common  among  true  Chriftians  of  late,  that 
have  been  fuppofed  by  many  to  have  rifen  from  a 
good  Caufe  ;  as  particularly  talking  of  divine  and 
heavenly  Things, and  exprefllng  divine  Joys  with 
Laughter  or  a  light  Behaviour.  I  believe  in  many 
Inftances  fuch  Things  have  arifen  from  a  good 
CiiMfe,'  as  their  Caufa  fine  qua  noriy  that  high  Dif- 
cgveries.  and  gracious  joyful  Affeflions  have  been 
the  Gccalion  of  them  ;  but  the  proper  Caufe  has 
been  Sin,  even  that  odious  Defe<Sl  in  their  Expe- 
rience, whereby  there  has  been  wanting  a  Senfe  of 
the  awful  and  holy  Majefty  of  God  aa  prefent 
with  them^  and  their  Nothingnefs  and  ViJenefs 
beiof e  hioi)  eiopQjE;tiaaabk  t9.  the  Scnfe  ths.j  have 

had 


Pa.  IV.  Gmfes  cf  Sin.  279 

had  of  God's  Grace  and  the  Love  of  Christ  • 
And  the  fame  is  true  in  many  Cafes  of  Perfons  un' 
fuitable  Boldnefs,  their  Bifpofition  to  fpeak  with 
Autiiority,  intemperate  Zeal,  and  many  other 
Things  that  fometimes  appear  in  true  Chriftians, 
under  great  religious  AfFeclions. 

And  fometimes' the  Vehemence  of  the  Motion 
of  the  animal  Spirits,  under  great  Affeftlons,  is 
owing  in  confiderable  Meafure,  to  Experiences 
being  thus  partial.  I  have  known  it  in  feveral 
Inftances,  that  Perfons  have  been  greatly  afFefted 
with  the  dying  Love  of  Christ,  and  the  Confi- 
derationof  the  Happinefs  of  the  Enjoyment  of  him 
in  Heaven,  and  other  Things  cf  that  Nature,  and 
their  animal  Spirits  at  the  fame  Time  have  been  in 
a  great  Emotion,  but  in  the  midft  of  it  have  had 
given  'em  a  deep  Senfe  of  the  awful,  holy  Majefty 
of  God,  and  it  has  at  once  compofed  them,  and 
quieted  animal  Nature,  without  diminifhing  their 
Comfort,  but  only  has  made  it  of  a  better^  and 
more  folid  Nature  3  when  they  have  had  a  Senfe 
both  of  the  Majefty  &  Grace  of  God,  one  Thing 
has  as  it  were  ballanced  another,  &:  caufed  a  more 
happySedatenefsandCompofureofBody  &  Mind. 

Prom  thefe  Things  we  may  learn  how  to  judge 
of  Expeiiences,  and  to  eftimate  their  Goodnef?. 
Thofe  are  not  always  the  beft  Experiences,  that 
are  attended  v/ith  the  moft  violent  Affe<5tjons,  and 
moft  vehement  Motions  of  the  animal  Spirits,  or 
that  have  the  greateft  EiFe(5ls  on  tie  Bcdy ;  nor 
are  they  always  the  beft,  that  do  moft  difpofe  Per- 
fons to  abound  in  Talk  to  others,  ajid  to  fpcak  in 
the  moft  vehement  Manner  ;   (tho'  thefe  Things 

often 


f  2i?o     fVbal  are  the  beji  Experiences.     P.IV. 

often  arifc  from  the  Greatnefs  of  fpiritual  Experi- 
ences;) Butthofe  are  the  nioft  excellent  Experi- 
ences jhat  are  qualified  as  follows  ;  I.  That  have 
the  leaft  Mixture,  or  are  the  moft  purely  fpiritual. 

2.  That  are  the  leaft  deficient  and  partial,  in  which 
the  diverfe  Things  that  appertain  to  Chriftian  Ex- 
perience are  proportionable  one  to  another.     And 

3.  That  are  raifed  to  the  highcft  Degree  :  *Tis 
no  Matter  how  high  they  are  raifed  if  they  are 
qualified  as  before  mentioned,  the  higher  the  bet- 
ter. Experiences  thus  qualified,  will  be  attended 
with  the  moft  amiable  Behaviour,  and  will  bring 
forth  the  moft  folid  and  fweet  Fruits,  and  will  be 
the  moft  durable,  and  will  have  the  greateft  EffeCl 
on  the  abiding  Temper  of  the  Soul. 

If  God  is  pleafed  to  carry  on  this  Work,  and  it 
fhould  prove  to  be  the  Dawning  of  a  general  Revi- 
val of  the  Chriftian  Church,  it  may  be  expeded 
that  the  Time  will  come  before  long,  when  the 
Experiences  of  Chriftians  fliall  be  much  more  ge- 
nerally thus  qualified.  We  muft  expe£l  green 
Fruits  before  we  have  ripe  ones.     'Tis  probable 

I  that  hereafter  the  Difcoveries  which  the  Saints 
fliall  have  of  divine  Things,  will  be  in  a  much 
higher  Degree  than  vet  have  been  ;  but  yet  fliall 
be  fo  ordered  of  an  infinitely  wife  and  all-fufficient 
QoD,  that  they  ihall  not  have  fo  great  an  EfFed, 
in  Proportion,  on  tiie  Body,  and  will  be  lefs  op- 
preffive  to  Nature ;  and  that  the  outward  Mani- 
feftations  will  rather  be  like  thofe  that  were  in 
Stephen^  when  he  was  full  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  when 
all  thai  fat  in  the  CounciU  looking  jh'dfajUy  on  him^ 

\jaiv  his  Face^  ss  it  had  been  the  Face  of  an  AngeL 

Their 


p. I V .  The  degenerating  of  Experiences,    2  8 1 

Their  inward  Fulnefs  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  his 
divine,  amiable  and  fweet  Influences  Ihall  as  it 
were  fhine  forth  in  an  heavenly  Afpeft,  and  Man- 
ner of  Speech  and  Behaviour.         But 

3,  There  is  another  Thing  concerning  Expe- 
riences of  Chriftians,  of  which  it  is  of  yet  greater 
Importance  that  we  fhould  be  aware,  than  either 
of  the  preceding,  and  that  is  the  degenerating  of 
Experiences,  What  I  mean  is  fomething  diverfe 
from  the  meer  Decay  of  Experiences,  or  their 
gradually  vanifhing,  by  Perfons  lofing  their  Senfe 
of  Things ;  'Tis  Perfons  Experiences  growing  by 
Degrees  worfe  and  worfe  in  their  Kind,  more  and 
more  partial  and  deficient,  in  which  Things  are 
more  out  of  due  Proportion  \  and  alfo  have  more 
and  more  of  a  corrupt  Mixture,  the  fpiritual  Part 
decreafes,  and  the  other  ufelefs  and  hurtful  Parts 
greatly  incraafe.  There  is  fuch  a  Thing,  and  it 
is  very  frequent,  as  Experience  abundantly  evi^ 
dences  :  I  have  k^n  it  in  very  many  Inftances  ;! 
and  great  are  the  Mifchiefs  that  have  rifen  through 
want  of  being  more  aware  of  it.  \ 

There  is  commonly,  as  I  obferved  before,  1/ 
high  Experiences,  befides  that  which  is  fpiritual*. 
a  Mixture  of  three  Things,  viz.  Natural  or  com- 
mon AfFe6lions  and  Workings  of  the  Im.agination 
and  a  Degree  of  Self-righteoufnefs  or  fpiritua 
Pride.  Now  it  often  comes  to  pafs,  that  through. 
Perfons  not  diftinguifhing  the  Wheat  from  thjj 
ChafF,  and  for  want  of  Watchfulnefs  and  humblf, 
Jealoufy  of  themfelves,  and  laying  great  WeigHf 
on  the  natural  and  imaginarv Part,  and  yielding]' 
it,  &  indulging  of  it,  that  Part  grows  &  increafd 


2  8  2     The  degenerating  of  Experiences,  P.IV .  ™ 

m 

and  the  fpiritual  Part  decreafes  ^  the  Devil  fets  in, 
and  works  in  the  corrupt  Part,  and  cheriflies  it  to 
his  utmoft ;  'till  at  length  the  Experiences  of  feme 
Perfons,  who  began  well,  come  to  but  little  elfe, 
hut  violent  Motions  of  carnal  Affections,  with 
great  Heats  of  the  Imagination,  and  a  great  De- 
gree of  Enthufiafm^andrwelling  of  fpiritual  Pride  ; 
very  much  like  fome  Fruits  which  bud,  bloflbm 
and  kernel  well,  but  afterwards  arc  blafted  with 
an  Exceis  of  Moilturc  ;  fo  that  tho'  the  Bulk  is 
monftrouily  great,  yet  there  is  little  elfe  in  it  but 
v/hat  is  ufelefs  and  unwholfome.  It  appears  to  me 
Ytvf  probable,  that  many  of  the  Herefies  that  have 
arifen,  &  Seels  that  have  appeared  in  the  Chriftian 
World,  in  one  Age  and  another,  with  wild  enthu- 
fiaftical  Notions  and  Practices,  began  at  firft  by 
this  Means,  that  it  was  fuch  a  Degenerating  of 
Experiences  that  firft  gave  Rife  to  'em,  or  at  leaft 
led  the  Way  to  'em. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  World  that  does  fo 
much  expofe  to  this  degenerating  of  Experiences, 
as  an  unheeded  fpiritual  Pride  &  Self-Confidence, 
and  Perfons  being  conceited  of  their  own  Stock, 
without  an  humble,  daily  &  continual  Dependance 
on  God.  And  this  very  Thing  feems  to  be  typi- 
fied of  old,  by  the  corrupting  of  the  Manna.  Some 
of  the  Children  of  Ifrael,  becaufe  they  had  ga- 
thered  a  Store  of  AMma^  trufted  in  it,  there  being, 
as  they  apprehended,  fufficiient  in  the  Store  they 
had  gathered  and  laid  up,  without  humbly  looking 
to  Heaven,  and  ftooping  to  the  Earth  for  daily 
Supplies;  and  the  Confcquence  was,  that  their 
Marma  bred  Worms  and  ftank,  Exod^   i6.  20. 

Pride 


VIV,  The  degmraiin^  of  Experiences,    283 

Pride  above  all  Things  promotes  this  Degeneracy 
of  Experiences,  becaufe  it  grieves  &  quenches  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  and  fo  kills  the  fpiri- 
tual  Part  5  and  it  cheriflies  the  natural  Part,  it  in- 
flames the  carnal  AfFedlions,  and  heats  the  Ima- 
gination. 

The  unhappy  Perfon  that  is  the  Subjedl:  of  fuch 
a  Degeneracy  of  Experiences,  for  the  moft  Part, 
is  not  fenfible  of  his  own  Calamity  ;  but  becaufe 
he  finds  himfelf  ftill  violently  moved,  and  greater 
Heats  of  Zeal,  and  more  vehement  Motions  of  his 
animal  Spirits,  thinks  himfelf  fuller  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  than  ever.  But  indeed  it  is  with  him,  as 
the  Apoftle  fays  of  the  Galatians^  Gal.  3.  3.  Ha- 
ving  begun  in  the  Spirit ^  they  are  made  perfe6f  by  the 
Flejh. 

By  the  Mixture  there  is  of  common  AfFeftion 
with  Love  to  God,  the  Love  of  true  Chriftians 
is  liable  to  degenerate,  and  to  be  more  and  more 
built  on  the  Foundation  of  a  Suppofition  of  being 
his  high  and  peculiar  Favourites,  and  lefs  and  lefs 
on  an  Apprehenfion  of  the  Excellency  of  God's 
Nature,  as  he  is  in  himfelf.  So  the  Joy  of  Chri- 
ftians, by  Reafon  of  the  Mixture  there  is  with 
fpiritual  Joy,  is  liable  to  degenerate,  and  to  come 
to  that  at  laft,  as  to  be  but  little  elfe  but  Joy  in 
Self,  Joy  in  a  Perfon's  own  fuppofed  Eminency, 
and  Diftin6lion  from  others  in  the  Favour  of  God  • 
So  Zeal,  that  at  firft  might  be  in  great  Part  fpiri- 
tual, yet  through  the  Mixture  there  is,  in  a  W 
Continuance  of  Oppofition  and  Controverfy,  may 
degenerate  more  and  more  into  human  and  prouj 
Paffion,  and  may  come  to  Bitternefs,  and  even  a 


,   284    ^he  degenerating  of  Ex feriences.  P.  IV. 

/  Degree  of  Hatred.  And  fo  Love  to  the  Brethren 
may  by  Degrees  come  to  but  little  elfe  but  Fond- 
nefs,  and  Zeal  for  a  Party;  yea,  thro'  a  Mixture 
of  a  natural  Love  to  the  oppofite  Sex,  may  dege- 
nerate more  and  more,  'till  it  ifTues  in  that  which 
IS  criminal  and  grofs.  And  I  leave  it  with  thofe 
who  are  better  acquainted  with  Ecclefiaftical  Hif- 
tory,  to  enquire  whether,  fuch  a  Degeneracy  of 
AfFedionsas  this,  might  not  be  the  firft  Thing 

;  that  led  the  Way,  and  gave  Occafion  to  the  Rife 
of  the  abominable  Notions  of  fome  SecSts  that  have 
arifen,  concerning  the  Community  ®f  Women. 
However  that  is,  yet  certainly  the  mutual  Em- 
braces and  Kifles  of  Perfons  of  different  Sexes, 
under  the  Notion  ofChriftianLove  &  holy  Kiffes, 
are  utterly  to  be  difallowed  and  abominated,  as 
having  the  moft  dire6l  Tendency  quickly  to  turn 
Chriftian  Love  into  unclean  &  bruitifh  Luft, which 
won't  be  the  better,  but  ten  Times  the  worfe,  for 
being  chriften'd  by  the  Name  of  ChrijUan  Love, 
I  fhould  alfo  think  it  advifeable.  That  Meetings  of 
young  People,  of  both  Sexes,  in  the  Evening,  by 

i\themfelves,  without  a  Minifter,  or  any  elder  Peo- 

//ple  amongft  them,  for  religious  Exercifes,  fhould 
be  avoided  :  For  tho'  for  the  prefent,  while  their 
Minds  are  greatly  folemnized  with  lively  Impref- 
fions,  &  a  deep  Senfe  of  divine  Things,  there  may 
appear  no  ill  Confequence  \  yet  we  muft  look  to 
the  further  End  of  Things,  and  guard  againft  fu- 
ture Dangers  &  Advantages  that  Satan  might  gain 
againft  us.     As  a  lively,  folemn  Senfe  of  divine 

<  Things  on  the  Minds  of  young  Perfons  may  gra- 
dually decay,  fo  there  will  be  Danger  that  an  ill 

5  Im- 


p. IV.  ^he  degenerating  of  Experiences.    285 

Improvement  of  thefe  Meetings  may  gradually 
prevail  ;  if  not  in  any  unfuitable  Behaviour  while 
together  in  the  Meeting,  yet  when  they  break  up 
to  go  Home,  they  may  naturally  confort  together 
in  Couples,  for  other  than  religious  Purpofes  ;  and 
it  may  at  laft  come  to  That,  that  young  Perfons 
may  go  to  fuch  Meetings,  chiefly  for  the  Sake  of 
ffcich  an  Opportunity  for  Company-keeping. 

The  DefeSf  there  fometimes  is  in  the  Experi- 
ences of  Chriftians  expofes  'em  to  degenerate,  as 
well  as  the  Mixture  that  they  have.  Deficient 
maimed  Experiences  do  fometimes  become  more 
and  more  fo  :  TheMind  being  wholly  intent  upon 
thofe  Things  that  are  in  View,  and  thofe  that  are. 
moft  wanting  being  neglefted,  there  is  lefs  and  lefs 
of  them,  and  fo  the  Gap  for  Corruption  to  come 
in  grows  wider  and  wider.  And  commonly  both 
thefc  Caufes  of  the  degenerating  of  Experiences 
operate  together. 

We  had  need  to  be  jealous  over  our  felvcs  with  - 
a  godly  Jealoufy,  as  the  Apoftle  was  over  the  Chri- 
ftian  Corinthians,  left  by  any  Means,  as  the  Ser- 
pent beguiled  Eve  thro'  his  Subtilty,  fo  our  Minds 
Ihould  be  corrupted  from  the  Simplicity  that  is  in 
Christ.  God  indeed  will  never  fufFer  his  true 
Saints  totally  and  finally  to  fall  away,  but  yet  may 
punifh  their  Pride  and  Self-Confidence,  by  fufFer- 
ing  them  to  be  long  led  into  a  dreadful  Wildernefs, 
by  the  fubtle  Serpent,  to  the  great  wounding  of 
their  own  Souls,  and  the  fhtereft  of  Religion. 

And  before  I  difmifs  this  Head  of  the  Degene- 
rating ofExperiences,  Iwould  mention  one  Thinz 
more  that  tends  to  it ;  and  that  is  Perfon's  aimin? 
Bb_2  i^ 


286     Of  being  righteous ^  aver-  much.     P.  IV. 

in  their  Experience  to  go  beyond  the  Rule  of 
God's  Word, /.  ^.  aiming  at  that,  which  is  in- 
deed^ in  fome  Refpeft,  beyond  the  Rule.  Thus 
fome^Perfons  have  endeavoured  utterly  to  root  out 
and  abohfh  all  ^natural  Affection,  or  any  fpecial 
AfFedlion  or  Refpeft  to  their  near  Relations,  un- 
der a  Notion  that  no  other  Love  ought  to  be  al- 
lov/ed,  but  fpiritual  Love,  and  that  all  other  Love 
is  to  be  abolifhed  as  carnal,  and  that  it  becomes 
Chriftians  to  love  none  upon  the  Account  of  any 
Thingelfe,  but  the  Image  of  God  ;  and  that  there- 
fore Love  ftiDuld  go  out  to  one  and  another  only 
in  that  Proportion  in  which  the  Image  of  God  is 
feen  in  them.  They  might  as  well  argue  that  a 
Man  ought  utterly  to  difallow  of,  and  endeavour 
to  abolifh  all  Love  or  Appetite  to  their  daily  Food, 
under  a  Notion  that  it  is  a  carnal  Appetite,  and 
that  no  other  Appetite  {hould  be  tolerated  but  fpi- 
ritual Appetites.  Why  fhould  the  Saints  ftriye 
after  that,  as  an  high  Attamment  in  Holiaefs^, 
which  theApoftlein  Rom.  i.  31.  mentions  as  one 
Inftance  wherein  the  Heathen  had  got-to  the  moft 
horrid  Pafs  in  Wickednefs,  viz,.  A  being  without 
natural  Affeaion  ?  .  ,  r 

Some  have  doubted  whether  they  m^ght  pray  for 
the  Converfion  and  Salvation  of  the  Souls  of  therf 
Children,  any  more  than  for  the  Souls  of  others  ; 
becaufe  theSalvation  of  the  Souls  of  others  would  be 
^s  much  to  God's  Glory,  as  the  Salvation  of  their 
Children  s  and  they  have  fuppofed  that  to  pray 
moft  for  their  own,  would  fhew  a  felfifh  Difpofi- 
tion.  So  they  have  been  afraid  to  tolerate  a  com- 
paffionate  Grief  and  Concern  for  their^ne^^^^^^^^ 


P;  I V .     Of  being  righteous  over-much,     287 

Friends,  for  Fear  it  would  be  an  Argument  of 
want  of  Refignation  to  God. 

And  'tis  true,  there  is  great  Danger  of  Perfons 
fetting  their  Hearts  too  much  upon  their  earthly 
Friends  \  our  Love  to  earthly  Friends  ought  to  be 
under  the  Government  of  the  Love  of  God,  and 
fhould  be  attendeiwith  a  Spirit  of  Suhmiflion  and 
Refignation  to  his  Will,  and-every  Thing  fliould 
be  fuborcjinated  to  his  Glory :  But  that  is  no  Ar- 
gument that  thefe  Affedions  fhould  be  entirely 
abolifhed,  which  the  Creator  of  the  World  has  put 
within  Mankind,  for  the  Good  of  Mankind,  and 
becaufe  he  faw  they  would  be  needful  for  them, 
as  they  muftbe  united  in  Society,  in  the  prefent 
State,  and  are  of  great  Ufe,  when,  kept  in  their 
proper  Place ;  and  to  endeavour  totally  to  root 
them  out,  would  be  to  reproach  and  oppofe  the 
Wifdom  of  the  Creator.  Nor  is  the  Being  oi 
thefe  natural  Inclinations,  if  well  regulated ,°in- 
confiftent  with  any  Part  of  our  Duty  to  God,  or 
any  Argument  of  a  finful  Selfifhnefs,  any  mora 
than -the  natural  Abhorrence  that  there  is  in  the 
human  Nature  of  Pain,  and  natural  Inclination  to 
i-a.e  that  was  intheManCnRisTjEsus  himfelfj 

'Tis  the  Dutyof  Parents  to  be  moreconcern'd,^ 
and  to  pray  more  for  theSalvation  of  theirChildren ,^ 
than  for  the  .Children. of  their  Neighbours^;  as 
much  as  it  is  the  Duty  of  a  Minifter  to  be  more 
concerned  for  the  Salvation  of  die  Souls  of  his 
1^ lock  and  to  pray  more  fcr  them,  than  thofe  of 
other  Congregations,  becaufe  the>^  are  committee} 
to  his  Care  ;  fo  our  near  Friends  are  more  com- 
mitted to  our  Care  than,  others,  ar^.  aur.  neaij  ..j 


±98     Of  being  righteous  over-much.     R IV. 

NeighbourSjthan  thofc  that  live  at  a  great  Diftance; 
and  the  People  of  our  Land  and  Nation  are  more 
in  fome  Senfe,conimitted  to  ourCare  than  thePeo- 
pie  of  C!6/«^7,and  we  ought  to  pray  more  for  them^ 
and  to  be  more  concerned  that  the  Kingdom  of 
Christ fhouldflourifli  amongthem,  than  in  ano* 
ther  Country,  where  it  would  be  as  much,  and  no 
inor«  for  the  Glory  of  God.,  Compaflion  ought 
to  be  efpecially  exercifed  towards  Friends,  Job.  6. 
^4,  Christ  did  not  frown  upon  a  fpecial  Affec- 
tion and  Compaflion  for  near  Friends,  but  coun- 
tenanced  and  encouraged  it,  from  Xime  to  Time, 
in  thofe  that  in  the  Exercife  of  fuch  an  Affe£lion 
and  Compaflion,  applied  to  him  for  Relief  for  their 
]f  riends  ;  as  in  the  Inftance  of  the  Woman  of  Ca- 
naan^ Jairusy  Mary  and  JVlariha^  the  Centurion, 
the  Widow  of  Nain^  and  many  others.  The  Apo- 
file  Paul ytho*  a  Man  as  much  r^figned  and  devo- 
ted to  Goi  ,  and  under  the  Power  of  his  Love, 
perhaps  as  any  meer  Man  that  ever  lived,  yet  had 
a  peculiar  Concern  for  his  Countrymen  the  Jews^ 
^e  rather  on  that  Account,  that  they  were  his 
Brethren  and  Kinfmen  according  /a  the  Flejh ;  he 
had  a  very  high  Degree  of  compaflionate  Grief 
for  them,  infomuch  that  he  tells  us  he  had  great 
ijeavinefs  and  continual  Sorrow  of  Heart  for  them, 
.  a;>d  could  wi(h  himfelf  acc.urfed  from  Christ 
for  them. 

There  are  many  Things  that  are  proper  for  the 
Saints  in  Heaven,  that  are  not  fuitable  to  the  State 
God  has  fet  us  in,  in  this  World  :  And  for  Chn- 
ftians,  in  thefe and  other  Inftances,  to afFeato  go 
hcj^ond  the  grefent  State  of  Mankind, .  and  what 


p.  IV.     Of  being  rig  hteous  over-much.     2  89. 

Goo  has  appointed  as  fit  for  it,  is  an  Inftancc  of 
that  which  the  wile  Man  calls  a  being  righteous 
over-much y  and  has  a  Tendency  to  open  a  Door 
for  Satan,  and  to  caufe  religious  AfFeftions  to  de- 
generate int»  fomething  very  unbecoming  of 
Chriftians. 

Thus  I  have,  as  I  propofed,  taken  Notice  of 
fome  Things  with  Regard  to  the  inward  Experi- 
ences of  Chriftians,  by  which  S^/^«  has  an  Ad- 
vantage.     I  now  proceed  in  the 

2d.  Place,  to  take  Notice  of  fomediing  with 
Regard  to  the  external  EiFecls  of  Experiences, 
which  alfo  gives  Saton  an  Advantage.  What  I 
have  Refpeft  to,,  is  the  fecret  and  unaccountable 
Influence  that  Cuftom  has  upon  Perfons,  with  rc- 
fpeft  to  the  external  EfFecSls  and  Manifeftations  of 
the  inward  AfFeduons  of  the  Mind.  By  Cuftom 
I  mean,  both  a  Perfon's  being  accuftomed  to  a 
Thing  in  himfelf,  in  his  own  common,  allowed 
and  indulged  Practice,  and  alfo  the  Countenance 
and  Approbation  of  others  amongft  whom  he 
dwells,  by  their  general  Voice  and  Pra£tice.  It  is 
well  known,  &  appears  fufHci en tly  by  what  I  have 
faid  already  in  this  Treatifc  and  elfewhere,  that  I 
am  far  from  afcribing  all  the  late  uncommon  Ef- 
fe6ls  and  outward  Manifeftations  of  inward  Expe- 
riences toCuftom  &  Faftiion,  as  fome  do  \  I  know 
it  to  be  otherwife,  ifit.be  poffible  for  me  to  know 
any  Thing  of  this  Nature  by  the  moft' critical  Ob- 
fervation,  under  all  Manner  of  Opportunities  of 
obferving.  But  yet,  this  aHbis  exceeding  evident 
by  Experience,  thatCuftom  has  a ftrange  Influence 
ia  thefe  Things :  I  know  itjiy  tbe^differentMian* 


290         The Jlrange  Influence  cf^      Pa.  IV! 

jnersand  Degrees  of  external  Effects  &  Manifefta- 
tions  of  great  AfFeilionS' and  high  Diicoveries^  in 
different  Towns,  according  to  what  Perfons'are 
gradually  led  into,  and  infeniibly  habituated  to,  by 
Example  and  Cuftom  ;  andyjJja  inth.e.farne  Pkce, 
at  different  Times,  according  to  the  Contlucl:  that 
they  have  :  If  ibmePerfon  is  among  them  tocojnduft 
them,  that  much  countenances  &  encourages  iuch 
Kind  of  outv/ardManifefcations  of  great  AffecSii- 
ons,  they  naturally  and  infenfibly  prexail,  &  grow 
by  Degrees  unavoid/ible  y  but  when  i^fterwards  the}' 
come  under  another  Kind  of  Condu^,  the  Manner 
of  external  Appearances  will  ftrangely  alter  :  And 
yet  it  feems  to  be  without  any  propjex  Defign  cr 
Contrivance  of  thofe  in  whom  there  is  this  Altera- 
tion ;  'tis  not  properly  affected  by  them,  but  the 
Influence  of  Example  and  Cuflom  is  fecret  and  in- 
fenfible  to  the  Perfons  themfelves.  Thefe.  Things 
have  a  vaft  Influence  in  the  Manner  of  Perfoi"k$ 
manifefling  their  Joys,  whether  with  Smiles  &an 
Air  of  Lightnefs,  or  whether  with  more  Solemnity 
and  Reverence  ;  and  fo  they  haveagre^tlnfluencc 
as  to  the  Difpoiltion  Perfons  h^ve  under  high  Af- 
fections to  abound  in  Talk ;  and  alfo  as  to  the 
Manner  of  their  fpeaking,  the  Loudnefs  and  Ve- 
hemence of  their  Speech  ;  (Tho'  it  would  be  ex- 
ceeding unjufl,  &  againft  all  the  Evidence  of  Facl 
and  Experience,  and  the  Raafon  of  Things,  to  lay. 
all  Difpofitions  Perfons  have  to  be  much  in  fpeak- 
ing to  others,  and  to  fpeak  in  a  verj'  earnefl  Mi-n- 
B^$  to.Guftprp,). .  'Tis  ni^anifefl  th.  t  Example, and. 
Cuftonj  has  forae  Way  or.  other,  a  fecret  and  un- 
fearicfeWe  Injauewe  QA.tbofe  Adions.tb^t  ^re.in- 

voluntary 


Pa.  IV.  Example  and  Cujlom.  291 

voluntary,  by  the  DifFerence  that  there  is  in  diffe- 
rent Places,  and  in  the  fame  Places  at  different 
.Times,  according  to  the  diverfe  Examples  and 
Conduft  that  they  have. 

Therefore,  tho'  it  would  be  very  unreafonable, 
and  prejudicial  to  the  Intereft  of  Religion,  to  frown 
upon  all  thefe  extraordinary  external  Effeds  and 
Manifeflations  of  great  religious  Affeftions,(for  a 
Meafure  of  them  is  natural,  neceflary  and  beauti- 
ful, and  the  Effect  in  no  wife  difproportion'd  to 
the  fpiritual  Caufe,  and  is  of  great  Benefit  to  pro- 
mote Religion  ;)  yet  I  think  they  greatly  err  who 
think  that  thefe  Things  fnould  be  wholly  unhmit- 
ed,  and  that  all  fhould  be  encouraged  in  going  in 
thefe  Things  to  the  utmoft  Length  that  they  feel 
themfelves  inclined  to  :  The  Confequence  of  this 
will  be  very  bad  :  There  ought  to  be  a  gentle  Re- 
ftralnt  held  upon  thefe  Things,  and  there  fhould  be 
a  prudent  Care  taken  of  Perfons  in  fuch  extraor- 
dinary Circumftances,  and  they  fhould  be  mode- 
rately advifed  at  proper  Seafons,  not  to  make  more 
Ado  than  there  is  Need  of,  but  rather  to  hold  a 
Reflraint  upon  their  Inclinations  ;  otherwife  ex- 
traordinary outward  EfFedls  will  grow  upon  them, 
they  will  be  more  and  more  natural  and  unavoida- 
ble,  and  the  extraordinary  outward  Show  will  in- 
creafe,  without  any  Increafe  of  the  internal  Caufe  ; 
Perfons  will  find  themfelves  under  a  Kind  of  Ne- 
ceiTity  of  making  a  great  Ado,  with  lefs  and  lefs 
AfFecSlion  of  Soul,  'till  at  length  almoft  any  flight 
Emotion  will  fet  them  going,  and  they  willlbe 
more  and  more  violent  and  boiflerous,  and  will 
grow  louder  and  louder,   'till  their  Actions  and 

Beha-^ 


292  Cenfuring.  Pa.  IV; 

Behaviour  becomes  indeed  very  abfurd.     Theft 
Things  Experience  proves. 

Thus  I  have  taken  Notice  of  the  more  general 
Caufes  whence  the  Errors  that  have  attended  this 
great  Revival  of  Religion  have  rifen,  &  under  each 
Head  have  obferved  fome  particular  Errors  that 
have  flowed  from  thefe  P'ountains.  I  now  pro- 
ceed as  I  propofed  in  the 

SecondVhc^^  to  take  Notice  of  fome  particular 
Errors  that  haverifen  from  feveral  of  thefe  Caufes; 
in  fom.e  perhaps  they  have  been  chiefly  owing  to 
one,  and  in  others  to  anotlier,  and  in  others  to  the 
Influence  of  feveral,  or  all  ccnjundlly.  And  here 
the 

I  ft  Thing  I  would  take  Notice  of  is  cenfuring, 
others  that  are  profemng  Chriftians,  in  good  Stand- 
ing in  the  vifible  Church,  as  unconverted*  I  need 
not  repeat  what  I  have  elfewhere  faid  to  (hew  this 
to  be  againft  the  plain  and  frequent  and  ftri(5t  Pro- 
hibitions of  the  Word  of  God  :  It  is  the  worft 
Difeafe  that  has  attended  this  Work, moft  contrary 
to  the  Spirit  and  Rules  of  Chriftianity,  &  of  worft: 
CQnfequences. .  There  is  a  moft  unhappyTinfture 
that  theMindsofmany,  both  Minifters  &  People, 
have  received  that  Wav.  TheManner  of  many  has 
been,  when  they  firft  enter  into  Converfttion  with 
an}iPerf6n,that  feems  to  h^ve  anyShew  or  make  any 
Pretences  to  Religion,  to  difcern  him,  or  to  fix  a 
Judgment  of  him,  from  his  Manner  of  talking  of 
Things  cfReliglon,whether  he  be  converted, or  ex- 
perimentally acquainted  with  vital  Piety  or  not,and 
then  to  treat  him  accordingly,  &  freely  to  exprefs 
theidr  Thoughts  of  him  to  others,  efpecially^thofe^. 

that 


Pa.  IV.  Cenfjiring.  293 

that  they  have  a  good  Opinion  of  as  true  Chrifti- 
ans,  and  accepted  as  Brethren  and  Companions  in 
Christ  ;  or  if  they  don't  declare  their  Minds 
exprefly,  yet  by  their  Manner  of  fpeaking  of  them, 
at  leafl:  to  their  Friends,  they'll  (how  plainly  what 
their  Thoughts  are.  -  So  when  they  have  heard 
any  Minifter  pray  or  preach,  their  firft  Work  has 
been  to  obferve  him  on  a  Defign  of  difcerning-him, 
whether  he  be  a  converted  Man  or  no  ;  whether 
he  pcays  like  one  that  feels  the  faving  Power  of 
God's  Spirit  in  his  Heart,  &  whether  he  preaches 
like  one  that  knows  what  he  fays.  It  has  been  fo 
much  the  Way  in  fome  Places,  that  many  new 
Converts  don't  know  but  it  is  their  Duty  to  do  fo, 
they  know  no  other  Way.  And  when  once  Per- 
fons  yield  to  fuch  a  Notion,  and  give  in  to  fuch  a 
Humour,  they'll  quickly  grow  very  difcerning  in 
their  own  Apprehenfion,  they  think  they  can  eafily 
tell  a  Hypocrite :  And  when  once  they  have  pafs'd 
their  Cenfure,  every  Thing  feems  to  confirm  it, 
they  fee  more  and  more  in  the  Perfon  that  they 
have  cenfured,  that  feems  to  them  to  fhew  plainly 
that  he  is  an  unconverted  Man.  And  then',  if  the 
Perfon  cenfured  be  a  Minifter,  every  Thing  in  his 
publick  Performances  feems  dead  and  faplefs,  and 
to  do  them  no  Good  at  all,  but  on  the  contrary  to 
be  of  deadning  Influence,  and  poifonous  to  the 
Soul  ;  yea  it  feems  worfe  and  worfe  to  them,  his 
Preaching  grows  more  &  more  intolerable  :  which 
is  owing  to  a  fecret,  ftrong  Prejudice,  that  fteals 
in  more  and  more  upon  the  Mind,  as  Experience 
plainly  and  certainly  fhows.  When  the  Spirit  of 
God  was  wonderfully  poured  out  in  this^ Place, 

more 


294         0/  cenfur'.n^  Minljiers.      Pa.  IV. 

more  than  feven  Years  ago,  and  near  thirty  Souls 
in  a  Week,  take  one  with  another,  for  five  or  fix 
Weeks  together,  were  to  Appearance  bro't  Home 
to  Christ,  and  all  the  Town  feem'd  to  be  alive 
and  full  of  God,  there  was  no  fuch  Notion  or  Hu- 
mour prevailing  here  ;  when  Minifters  preached 
here,  as  very  many  did  at  that  Time,  young  and 
old,  our  People  did  not  go  about  to  difcern  whe- 
ther they  were  Men  of  Experience  or  not :  They 
did  not  know  that  they  muft  :  Mr.  Stoddard  never 
brought  'em  up  in  that  Way  ;  it  didmot  feem  na- 
tural to  'em  to  go  about  any  Thing  of  that  Nature, 
nor  did  any  fuch  Thing  enter  into  their  Hearts ; 
but  when  any  Minifter  preached,  the  Bufinefs  of 
every  one  was  to  liften  and  attend  to  what  he  faid,    - 
and  apply  it  to  his  ownHeart,and  make  the  utmoft 
Improvement  of  it.     And  'tis  remarkable,   th^t 
never  did  there  appear  fuch  a  Difpofition  in  the 
People,  to  relifh,  approve  of,  and  admire  Mini- 
fters preaching  as  at  thatTime  :  Such  Expreflions 
as  thefe  were  frequent  in  the  Mouths  of  one  and 
another,  onOccaficn  of  the  preaching  of  Strangers  \ 
here,  viz.  That  they   rejoyced  that  there  were  fo 
many  fuch  eminent Minljlers  in  theCountry  ;  and  they 
wonder' d  they  never  heard  the  Fajne  of  *em  before  : 
They  were  thankful  that  ether  Towns  had  Jo  good 
Means  ;  and  the  like.     And  fcarcely  ever  did  any 
Minifter  preach  here,    but  his  preaching  did  fome 
remarkable  Service  \   as  I  had  good  Opportunity 
to  know,  becaufe  at  that  Time  I  had  particular 
Acquaintance,  with  moft  of  the  Perfons  in  the 
T0wn,in  their  Soul  Concerns.     That  it  bas  been 
fo  much  otherwife  of  late  in  many  Places  in  the 

Land, 


Pa.  IV.       Of  cenfuring  Minijiers.         295 

Land,  Is  another  Inftance  of  the  fecret  and  power- 
ful Influence  of  Cuftom  and  Example. 

There  has  been  an  unhappy  Difpofition  in  fome 
Minifters  toward  their  Brethren  in  the  Miniftry 
in  this  Refpeft,  which  has  encouraged  and  greatly 
promoted  fuch  a  Spirit  among  fome  of  their  Peo- 
ple. A  wrong  Improvement  has  been  made  of 
Christ's  fcourging  the  Buyers  and  Sellers  out 
of  the  Temple  ;  it  has  been  expected  by  fome, 
that  Christ  was  now  about  thus  to  purge  his 
Houfe  of  unconverted  Minifters,  and  this  has  made 
it  more  natural  to  them  to  think  that  they  fhould 
do  Christ  Service,  and  act  as  Co-workers  with 
him,  to  put  to  their  Hand,  and  endeavour  by  all 
Means  to  cafliier  thofe  Minifters  that  tliey  thought 
to  be  unconverted.  Indeed  it  appears  to  me  pro- 
bable that  the  Time  is  coming,  when  awful  Judg- 
ments will  be  executed  on  unfaithful  Minifters, 
and  that  no  Sort  of  Men  in  the  World  will  be  fo 
much  expofed  to  divine  Judgments  ;  but  then  we 
fhould  leave  that  Work  to  Christ,  who  is  the 
Searcher  of  Hearts,  and  to  whom  Vengeance  be- 
longs ;  and  not  withoutWarrant,  take  the  Scourge 
out  of  his  Hand  into  our  own.  There  has  been 
too  much  of  a  Difpofition  in  fome,  as  it  were  to 
give  Minifters  over  as  Reprobates,  that  have  been 
look'd  upon  as  Wolves  in  Sheep's  Clothing  ;  which 
has  tended  to  promote  and  encourage  a  Spirit  of 
Bitternefs  towards  them,  and  to  make  it  natural 
to  treat  them  too  much  as  if  they  knew  God  ha- 
ted them.  If  God's  Children  knew  that  others 
were  Reprobates,  it  would  not  be  required  of  them 
to  love  them ;  we  may  hate  thofe  that  we  know 
C  c  Goi> 


tg6        Of  cenfuring  Minijiers.       Pa.  IV. 

God  hates  ;  as  'tis  lawful  to  hate  the  Devil,  and 
as  the  Saints  at  the  Day  of  Judgment  will  hate  the 

Wicked. Some  have  been  too  apt  to  look  for 

Fire  from  Heaven  upon  particular  Minifters  ;  and 
this  has  naturally  excited  that  Difpofition  to  call  for 
it>  that  Christ  rebuked  in  his  Difciples  at  5^- 
marta.  For  my  Part,  tho*  I  believe  no  Sort  of 
Men  on  Earth  are  fo  expofed  to  fpiritual  Judg- 
ments as  wicked  Minifters,  yet  I  feel  no  Difpofi- 
tion to  treat  any  Minifter  as  if  I  fuppofed  that  he 
was  finally  rejefted  of  God  ;  for  I  can't  but  hope 
that  there  is  coming  a  Day  of  fuch  great  Grace,  a 
Time  fo  appointed  for  the  magnifying  the  Riches 
and  Sovereignty  of  divine  Mercy,  beyond  what 
ever  was,  that  a  great  Number  of  unconverted 
Minifters*  will  obtain  Mercy.  There  was  no  Sort 
ofPerfons  in  Christ's  Time  that  werefo  guilty, 
and  fo  hardened,  and  towards  whom  Christ  ma- 
nifefted  fuch  great  Indignation,  as  the  Priefts  and 
Scribes,  and  there  were  no  fuch  Perfecutors  of 
Christ  and  his  Difciples  as  they  ;  and  yet  in 
that  great  Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  that  began  on 
the  Day  of  Pentecojl^  tho'  it  began  with  the  com- 
mon People,  yet  in  the  Progrefsof  theWork,  after 
a- while,  a  great  Company  of  Priefis  in  Jerufalem 
were  obedient  to  the  Faith y  ASt.  6.  7.  And  Sauly 
one  of  the  moft  violent  of  all  the  perfecuting  Pha- 
rifees,  became  afterwards  the  greateft  Promoter  of 
the  Work  of  God  that  ever  was.  I  hope  we  {hall 
yet  fee  in  many  Inftances  a  Fulfilment  of  that  in 
Ifa.  29.  24.  They  alfo  that  erred  in  Spirit  Jhall come 
,  ta  Underjlandingy  and  they  that  murmured  Jhall  learn 

Do£frine.  ^.    .  . 

Nothing 


Pa.  IV.      Of  cenfuring  Mtmfters.         297 

Nothing  has  been  gainM  by  this  Praftice.  The 
End  that  fome  have  aim'd  at  in  it  has  not  been  ob« 
tain'd,  nor  is  ever  like  to  be.  Poffibly  fome  have 
openly  cenfured  Minifters,  and  encouraged  their 
People's  Uneafinefs  under  them,  in  Hopes  that  it 
would  foon  come  to  Tliat^that  the  Uneafinefe  would 
be  fo  general,  and  fo  great,  that  unconverted  Mi- 
nifters in  general  would  be  caft  ofF,  and  that  then 
Things  would  go  on  happily  :  but  there  is  no  Like- 
lihood of  it.  The  Devil  indeed  has  obtained  his 
End  ;  this  Pradlice  has  bred  a  great  deal  of  Un- 
happinefs  among  Minifters  and  People,  kas  fpoil'd 
Chriftians  Enjoyment  of  Sabbaths,  and  made  'em 
their  moft  uneafy,  uncomfortable  and  unprofitable 
Days,  and  has  ftirM  up  great  Contention,  and  fct 
ail  in  a  Flame ;  and  in  one  Place  &  another  where 
there  was  a  glorious  Work  of  God's  Spirit  begun, 
it  has  in  a  great  Meafure  knocked  all  in  the  Head, 
and  their  Minifters  hold  their  Places.  Some  have 
aimM  at  a  better  End  in  cenfuring  Minifters ; 
they  have  fuppofed  it  to  be  a  likely  Means  to  awa- 
ken them  :  Whereas  indeed,  there  is  no  one  Thing 
has  had  fo  great  a  Tendency  to  prevent  the  Awa- 
kening of  difaff^edled  Minifters  in  general :  And  no 
one  Thing  has  acSlually  had  fuch  Influence  to  lock 
up  the  Minds  of  Minifters  againft  any  good  EfiFeft 
of  this  great  Work  of  God  in  the  Land,  upon 
their  Minds,  in  this  Refpeft  :  I  have  known  In- 
ftances  of  fome  that  feem'd  to  be  much  moved  by 
the  firft  Appearance  of  this  Work,  but  fmce  have 
feem'd  to  be  greatly  deadened  by  what  has  appeared 
of  this  Nature.  And  if  there  be  one  or  two  In- 
ftances  of  Minifters  that  have  been  awaken'd  by  it,  ^ 
C.C.2  ther§1 


^ 

2gS         Of  cenfuring  Minijlers.        Pa. IV. 

there  are  ten  to  one  on  whom  it  has  had  a  contrary 
Influence.  The  worft  Enemies. of  this  Work  have 
been  inwardly  eafed  by  this  Pradlice  ;  they  have 
made  a  Shield  of  it  to  defend  their  Confciences, 
and  have  been  glad  that  it  has  been  carried  to  fo 
great  a  Length  ;  at  the  fame  Time  that  they  have 
look'd  upon  it,  and  imprpy'd  it,  as  a  Door  open'd 
for  'em  to  be  more  bold  in  oppofmg  the .  Woi:Jc  in 
general. 

V.    There  is  no  fuch  dreadful  Danger  of  natural 
Men's  being  undone  by  our  forbearing  thus  to 
cenfure  them,  and  carrying  it  towards  them  as  vi-      ; 
fible  Chriftians  ;  it  will  be  no  bloody,  Hell-peo- 
pling Charity,  as  fomeieem  tofuppofe,  when  it  is 
known  that  we  don't_treat  'em  as  Chriftians^  be-      , 
caufe  we  have  takeu  it  upon  us  to  pafs  a  Judgment 
on  their  State,  on  any  Trial,  or  Exercife  of  our 
Skill  in  examining  and  difcerning  them,  but  only 
as  allowing  them  to  be  worthy  of  a  publick  Cha- 
rity, on  their  Profeflion  and  good  external  Beha- 
viour ;  any  more  than  Judas  was  in  Danger  of  be- 
ing deceived,  by  Christ's  treating  him  a  long 
Time  as  a  Difciple,  and  fending  him  forth  as  an 
Apoftle,  (becaufe  he  did  not  then  take  it  upon  him 
to  ad  as  the  Judge  and  Searcher  of  Hearts,  but 
only  as  the  Head  of  the  vifible  Church.)  Indeed 
fuch  a  Charitv  as  this  may  be  abufed  by  fome,  as 
every  Thing  i's,  and  will  be,  tliat  is  in  its  own  Na- 
ture proper,  and  of  never  fo  good  Tendency.     I 
fay  nothing  againft  dealing  thoroughly  with.  Con- 
feience,  by  the  moft  convincing  &  fearching  Dif- 
penfation  of  the  Word  of  God  :  L  don't  defye 

.   that  that  Sword  fhould  be  {heath'd,  or  gently  han- 
dled, 


p. IV.  Of  cenfuringbecaufe  of  Beadnefs.  299 

died  by  Minifters  ;  but  let  it  be  ufed  as  a  two- 
edged  Sword,  to  pierce,  even  to  the  dividing  afun- 
der  Soul  and  Spirit,  Joints  and  Marrow  5  let  Con- 
fcience  be  dealt  with,  without  any  Complements  | 
let  Minifters  handle  it  in  flaming  Fire,  without 
having  any  more  Mercy  on  it,  than  the  Furnace 
has  on  thofe  Metals  that  are  tried  in  it.  But  let 
us  let  Men's  Perfonsalone :  Let  the  Word  of  God 
judge  them,  but  don't  let  us  take  it  upon  us  'till 
we  have  Warrant  for  it. 

S®me  have  been  ready  to  cenfure  Minifters  be-^ 
caufe  they  feem,  inComparifon  of  fome  other  Mi- 
nifters, to  be  very  cold  and  lifelefs  in  their  mini- 
fterial  Performances.  But  then  it  fhould  be  con- 
fidered  that  for  ought  we  know,  God  may  here- 
after raife  up  Minifters  of  fo  much  more  excellent 
and  heavenly  Qualifications,  and  fo  much  more 
fpiritual  &  divine  in  their  Performances,  that  there 
may  appear  as  great  a  Difference  between  them, 
and  thofe  that  now  feem  the  moft  lively,  as  there 
is  now  between  them,  and  others  that  are  called 
dead  and  faplefs  ^  and  thofe  that  are  now  called 
lively  Minifters  may  appear  to  their  Hearers, whea- 
they  compare  them  with  others  that  fhall  excel 
them,  as  wretchedly  mean,  and  their  Performan- 
ces poor,  dead,  dry  Things  ;  and  many  may  be 
ready  to  be  prejudiced  againft  them,  as  accou^ing 
them  good  for  nothing,  and  it  may  be  calling  them 
Soul-Murderers.  What  a  poor  Figure  may  we 
fuppofe,,  the  moft  lively  of  us,  and  thofe  that  are 
moft  admired  by  the  People,  do  make  in  the  Eyes 
©f  one  of  the  Saints  of  Heaven,  any  otherwife  than 
Cc  3  as 


If 

300  OfcenfurinibecaufeofOppofttion.  P.IV 

as  their  Deadnefs,  Deformity  &  Rottennefe  is  hid 
by  the  Veil  of  Chrift's  Rigbteoufnefs  ? 

Another  Thing  that  has  h^tn  fuppofed  to  be  fu! 
ficient  Warrant  for  openly  cenfuring  Minifters  r. 
unconverted,  is  their  oppofing  this  Work  of  God 
that  has  lately  been  carried  on  in  the  Land.  And 
there  can  be  no  Doubt  with  nie  but  that  Oppofi- 
tion  againft  this  Work  may  be  fuch,  as  to  render 
cither  Minifters  or  People,  truly  fcandalous,  ard 
expofe  'em  to  publick  Edclefiaftical  Cenfure  ;  ar  ^ 
that  Minifters  hereby  may  utterly  defeat  the  Dc- 
fign  of  their  Miniftry,  (as'l  obferved  before  ;)  and 
fo  give  their  People  juft  Caufc  of  Uneafinefs  :  I 
fliould  not  think  that  any  Perfon  had  Power  to 
oblige  me,  conftantly  to'  attend  the  Minlftiy  of 
cMie,  who  did  from  Time  to  Time,  plainly  pray 
and  preach  againft  this  Work,  or  fpcak  reproach- 
fully of  it  frequently  in  his  publick  Performances, 
after  all  Chriftian  Methods  had  been  ufed  for  a  Rt~ 
medy,  and  to  no  Purpole. 

But  as  to  determining  how  far  oppofing  this 
Work  is  confifteYit  with  a  State  of  Grace^  or  how 
far,  and  for  how  long  Time,  fome  Perfons  of  good 
iExperience  in  their  own  Souls,  through  Prejudices 
"they  have  receiv'd  from  the  Errors  that  have  been 
mix'd  with  this  Work,  or  through  fome  peculiar 
'Difadvantages  they  are  under  to  behold  Tbing?  in 
a  rFght  View  ci^  them,  by  Reafon  of  the  Perfons 
they  con verfe  with,  or  their  own  cold  and  dead 
Frames,  is,  as  Experience  ftiows,  a  very  'difficult 
-Thing;  I  have  feen  that  which  abundantly  con- 
Tinces  me  that  the  Bufinefs  is  too  higli  for  me  ;  I 
Tfm  glad  that  God  liss  not  committed  fuch  a  dif- 
ficult. 


Pa.  IV.       The  ^Dayvger  of  Ccnjuring.       30 1 

f-'ficult  Affair  to  me  ;  I  can  joyfully  leave  it  wholly 
\  in  his  Hands,  who  is  infinitely  fit  for  it,  without 
meddling  at  all  with  it  my  felf.—  We  may  repre- 
fent  it  as  exceeding  dangerous  to  oppofe  this  Work, 
for  this  we  have  good  Warrant  in  the  Word  .of 
God  ;  but  I  know  of  no  NeceiTity  we  are  under 
to  determine  whether  it  be  pofhble  for  thofe  that 
are  guilty  of  it  to  be  in  a  State  of  Grace  or  no. 

God  feems  fo  ilrifl-ly  to  have   forbidden  this. 
Practice,  of  our  judging  our  Brethren  in  the  vifi- 
ble  Church,  not  onlv  becaufe  he  knew  that  we 
were  too  much  of  Babes,  infinitely  too  weak,  fal- 
lible and  blind,  to  be  well  capacitated  for  it,  but 
alfo  becaufe  he  knew  that  it  was  not  a  Work  fuited 
to  our  proud  Hearts  ;  that  it  would  be  fetting  us 
^•ai^:Iy  too  high,  and  making  us  too- much  of  Lords 
over  our  Fellow-Creatures.   Judging  our  Brethren 
and  paiKng  a  condemnatory  Sentence  upon  them^ . 
fcems  to  carry  in  it  an  Act  of  Authority,  elpecially 
\i\  ^o  great  a  Cafe,  to  fcntence  them  with'  refpe(£l: 
to  that  State  of  their  Hearts,on  which  depends  tlieir 
Liablenefsto  eternal  Damnation  \  as  is  evident  by 
fuch  Interrogations  as  thofc,  (to  hear  which  from 
God's  Mouth,  is  enough  to  make  us  fhrink  into 
Nothing  with  Shame  and  Confufion,  and  Senfe  o£ 
our  own  Blindnefs  and  Worthlefnefs)  Rom.  14.  4.  ' 
JVbo  art  thou  that  jud reft  another  Man' s  Servant?  ^ 
To  his  own  Majier  hejlandeth  orfalleth,^  And  Jam. 
4.  1 2.   There  is  one  Latugiicr  that  is  able  to  fave  and^ 
to  dejiroy  \  who  art  thou  that  judge  J r  another  ?  Our 
v'lfc  and  merciful  Shepherd  has  gracioufly  taken 
Care  not  to  lay  in  our  Way  fijch  a^Temptatlon  to*' 
Pride  5  he  has  cut  up  allVuch  Poifon  out  of  Qurj 

Paftuxg^i 


30  2    Offeparating  Sheep  from  Goats.  P.  IV. 


V  Pafture;  and  therefore  we  fiiould  not  defire  to 
have  it  reftored.  Blefled  be  his  Name,  that  he  has 
not  laid  fuch  a  Temptation  in  the  Way  of  my 
Pride  !  I  know  that  in  order  to  be  fit  for  this  Bu- 
finefs,  I  muft  not  only  be  vaftly  more  knowing, 
but  more  humble  than  I  am. 

Tho'  I  believe  fome  of  God's  own  Children 
have  of  late  been  very  guilty  in  this  Matter,  yet 
by  what  is  faid  of  it  in  the  Scripture,  it  appears  to 
me  very  likely,  that  before  thefe  Things  which 
God  has  lately  begun, have  an  End,  God  will  aw- 
fully rebuke  that  PravSice  ;  may  it  in  fovereign 
and  infinite  Mercy  be  prevented,  by  the  deep  and 
open  Humiliation  of  thofe  that  have  openly  prac- 
tifed  it. 

As  this  Practice  ought  to  be  avoided,  fo  fliould 
all  fuch  open,  vifible  Marks  of  Diftindlion  &  Sepa- 
_  ration  that  imply  it ;  as  particularly,  diftinguifhing 
fuch  as  we  have  judged  to  be  in  a  converted  State 
with  the  Com^pellations  of  Brother  or  Sipet- ;  any 
further  than  there  is  a  vrfible  Ecclefiaftical  Dif- 
tin6lion.     In  thofe  Places  where  it  is  the  Manner 
to  receive  fuch,  and  fuch  only  to  the  Communion 
i  of  the  vifible  Church,  as  recommend  themfelves  by 
'giving  a   fatisfying  Account  of  their  inward  Ex- 
periences, there  Chriftians  may  openly  diftinguifh 
fuch  Perfons,  in  their  Speech  and  ordinary  Behavi- 
.  our,  with  a  vifible  Separation,  without  being  in- 
confiftent  with  themfelves  :  And  I  don't  now  pre- 
tend to  meddle  with   that  Controverfy,  whether 
fuch  an  Account  of  Experience  be  requifite  to 
Church-Fellowfhip  :  But  certainly,  to  admit  Per- 
fons to  Communion  with  us  as  Brethren  in  the 
!  vilible 


Pa.  IV.        Imprecaticns  in  Prayer.         303 

-vilible  Church,  &  then  vifibly  to  rejedl  them,  and 
-to  make  an  open  Diftinflion  between  them  and 
others,  by  different  Names  or  Appellations,  is  to 
be  inconfiftent  with  our  felves  ;  'tis  to  make  a  vi- 
fible  Church  within  a  vifibie  Church,  and  vifibly 
to  divide  between  Sheep  and  Goats,  fcttingone  on 
the  right  Hand,  and  the  other  on  the  left. 

This  bitter  Root  of  Cenforioufnefs  muft  be  to- 

.  tally  rooted  out,  as  we  would  prepare  the  Way  of 
the  Lord.  It  has  nourished  and  upheld  many  other 
Things  contrary  to  the  Humility,  Meeknefs  and 
Love  of  the  Gofpel.  The  Minds  of  many  have  re- 
ceiv'd  an  unhappy  Turn,  in  fome  Refpeds,  with 
their  Religion  :  There  is  a  certain  Point  or  Sharp- 
nefs^  aDifpofition  to  a  Kind  of  Warmth,  that  does 
not  favour  of  that  meek.  Lamb-like,  fweet  Difpo- 
fitjon  that  becomes  Chriftians:  Many  have  now 
been  fo  long  habituated  to  it,  that  they'  don^t 
know  how  to  get  out  of  it ;  but  we  muft-  get  out 
o£i4  ;  the  Point  &  Sharpnefs  muft  be  blunted,  and 
jwe  muft  learn  another  Way  of  manifefting  our 

^i^eal  for  God. 

^.^.  There  is  a  VVay  of  reflecSl'ing  on  others,anG  cen- 
fiirlng  them  in  open  Prayer,  that  fome  have;  whicfh 

.  thp'  it  has  a  fair  Shew  of  Love,  yet  is  indeed  the 
boldeft  Way  of  reproaching  others  im-aginable,  be- 
caufe  tlK:re  is  implied  in  it  an  Appeal  to  the  moft 
high  Got-,  ccncerning  the  Truth  of  their  Cenfures 
and  Reflcdions. 
,  And  here  I  would  alfo  obfervt  by  the  Way^th^t 

.fome  have  a  Way  of  joining  a  Sort  of  Imprecati- 

.  ons  with  their  Petitions  for  others,  tho'  but  ccn- 

^^ditionalones,   that  appear  to  me  wholly  ntedlcfs 

and 


304     Of  praying  that  others  may     Pa.  IV.  ^| 

and  improper  :  They  pray  that  others  may  either 
be  converted  or  removed.  I  never  heard  nor  read 
of  any  fuch  Thing  practiced  in  the  Church  of  God 
'till  now,  unlefs  it  be  with  Refpedl  to  fome  of  the 
moft  vifibly  and  notorioufly  abandoned  Enemies  of 
the  Church  of  Go  d  .  This  is  a  Sort  of  curfing  Men 
in  our  Prayers,  adding  a  Curfe  with  our  Blefling  ; 
whereas  the  Rule  is  Blefs  and  curfe  not.  To  pray 
that  God  would  kill  another^  is  to  curfe  him  with 
the  like  Curfe  wherewith  EU/ha  curfed  the  Chil- 
dren that  came  out  oi  Bethel  And  the  Cafe  muft 
be  very  great  and  extraordinary  indeed  to  warrant 
it,  unlefs  we  were  Prophets,  and  did  not  fpeak  our 
own  Words,  butWords  indited  by  the  immediate 
Infpiration  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  'Tis  pleaded 
that  if  God  has  no  Defign  of  converting  others, 
'tis  beft  for  them,  as  well  as  beft  for  others,  that 
they  fhould  be  immediately  taken  away  and  fent  to 
Hell  before  they  have  contracted  more  Guilt.  To 
which  I  would  fay,  that  fo  it  was  beft  that  thofe 
Children  that  met  Eltfl)a^  feeingGoDhad  no  De- 
fign of  converting  them,  fhould  die  immediately 
as  they  did  ;  but  yet  Elijha's  imprecating  that  fud- 
den  Death  upon  them,  was  curfmg  them  j  and 
therefore  would  not  have  been  lawful  for  one  that 
did  not  fpeak  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord  as  g  Pro- 
phet. 

And  then  if  we  give  Way  to  fuch  Things  as 
thefe,  where  fhall  we  flop  ?  A  Child  that  fufpefts 
he  has  an  unconverted  Father  and  Mother,  may 
pray  openly  that  his  Father  and  Mother  may  either 
be  converted,  or  taken  away  and  fent  to  Hell  now 
quickly,  before  their  Guilt  is  greater.  (For  un- 
converted 


Pa.  IV.       be  converted  or  removed.        305 

converted  Parents  are  as  likely  to  poifon  the  Souls 
of  their  Family  in  their  Manner  of  training  them 
up,  as  unconverted  Minifters  are  to  poifon  their 
People.)  And  fo  it  might  come  to  That,  that  ft 
might  be  a  common  Thing  all  over  the  Country, 
for  Children  to  pray  after  this  Manner  concerning 
their  Parents,  and  Brethren  and  Sifters  concerning 
one  another,  &  Hufbands  concerning  their  Wives, 
and  Wives  concerning  Hufbands  ;  and  fo  for  Per- 
fons  to  pray  concerning  all  their  unconverted 
Friends  and  Neighbours ;  and  not  only  fo,^ut  we 
may  alfo  pray  concerning  all  thofe  Saints  that  are 
not  lively  Chriftians,  that  they  may  either  be  en- 
liven'd  or  taken  away  ;  if  that  be  true  that  is  often 
faid  by  fome  at  this  Day,  that  thefe  cold  dead 
Saints  do  more  Hurt  than  natural  Men,  and  lead 
more  Souls  to  Hell,  and  that  it  would  be  well  for 
Mankind  if  they  were  all  dead. 

How  needlefs  are  fuch  Petitions  or  Imprecations 
as  thefe  ?  What  Benefit  is  there  of  them  ?  Why 
is  it  not  fufficient  for  us  to  pray  that  God  would 
provide  for  his  Church,  and  the  Good  of  Souls, 
and  take  Care  of  his  own  Flock,  and  give  it  need- 
ful Means  and  Advantages  for  its  fpiritual  Profpe- 
rity?  Does  God  need  to  be  direded  by  us  in 
what  Way  he  fhall  do  it  ?  What  need  we  a(k  of 
God  to  do  it  by  killing  fuch  and  fuch  Perfons,  if 
he  don't  convert  them  ?  Unlefs  we  delight  in  the 
Thoughts  of  God's  anfwering  us  in  fuch  terrible 
Ways,  and  with  fuch  awful  Manifeftations  of  his 
Wrath  to  our  Fellow-Creatures. 

And  why  don't  Minifters  direiSt  Sinners  to  pray 
for  themfclves^  that  God  would  either  convert 

them 


:5 


06      Of  praying  that  others^  &c.     Pa. IV. 


•1 


them  or  kill /them,  and  fend  them  to  Hell  now, 
before  their  Guilt  is  greater?  In  this  Way  we 
fliould  lead  Perfons  ia  the  next  Place  to  Self- 
Murther  :  For  many  probably  would  foon  begin 
to  think  that  That  which  they  may  pray  for,  tbey 
may  feek,  and  ufe  the  Means  of.  *^  *  '  *  -  * 

Some  with  whom  I  have  difcourfed  about  this 
Way  of  praying,have  faid,that  the  Spirit  of  God., 
as  it  were,  forces  them  to  utter  themfelves  thus, 
as  it  were  forces  out  fuch  Words  from  their 
Mouths,  when  otherv/ife  they  fliould  not  dare  to 
utter  them.  But  fuch  a  Kind  of  Impulfe  don't 
look  like  the  IniSuence  of  the  Spirit  of  Go-  .  The 
Spirit  of  God  fometimes  ftrongly  inclines  Men  to 
utter  Words  ;  but  not  by  putting  Expreflions  in- 
to the  Mouth,  and  urging  to  utter  them  ;  but  by 
filling  the  Heart  with  a  Senfe  of  divine  Things, 
and  holy  Affections  ;  and  thofe  AfFecStions  and 
that  Senfe  inclines  the  Mouth  to  fpeak.  That 
other  Way  of  Men's  being  urged  to  ufe  certain 
ExprefTions,  by  an  unaccountable  Force,  is  very 
probably  from  the  Influence  of  the  Spirit  of  the 
Devil. 

2.  Another  Thing  I  would  take  Notice  of,  in 
the  Management  of  which  there  has  been  much 
Error  and  Mifcondudt,  is  Lay-Exhorting  ;  about 
which  tliere  has  been  abundance  of  Difputing, 
Tangling,  and  Contention. 

In  the  midft  of  all  the  Difputes  that  have  been, 
I  fuppofe  that  all  are  agreed  as  to  thefe  two  Things, 
viT..  I.  That  all  exhorting  one  another  of  Lay- 
men is  not  unlawful  or  improper,  but  on  the  con- 
\^ary,  that  fonie  Exhorting  is  a  Chriflian  Duty. 

And 


Pa.  IV.  Of  Lay-Exhorting.  307 

And  2.  I  fuppofe  alfo,  all  will  allow  that  there  is 
fomething  that  is  proper  only  for  Minifters  ;'  that 
there  isfome  Kind  or  Way  of  Exhorting  &  Teach- 
ing or  other,  that  belongs  only  to  the  Office  of 
•Teachers,  All  will  allow,  that  God  has  appointed 
fuch  an  Office  as  that  of  Teachers  in  the  Chriftian 
Church,  and  therefore  doubtlefs  will  allow  that 
fomething  or  other  is  proper  and  peculiar  to  that 
Office,  or  fome  Bufinefs  of  Teaching  that  belongs 
to  it,  that  don't  belong  as  much  to  others  as  to 
them. 

If  there  be  any  Way  of  Teaching  that  is  pecu- 
liar to  that  Office,  then  for  others  to  take  that 
upon  them,  is  to  invade  the  Office  of  a  Minifter  ; 
which  doubtlefs  is  very  finful,  and  is  often  fo  re- 
presented in  Scripture.  But  the  great  Difficulty 
is  to  fettle  the  Bounds,  and  to  tell  exadly,  how  far 
La} -men  may  go, and  when  they  exceed  their  Li- 
mits 5  which  is  a  Matter  of  fo  much  Difficulty, 
that  I  don't  wonder  if  many  in  their  Zeal  have 
tranfgrefs'd.  The  two  Ways  of  Teaching  &  Ex- 
horting, the  one  of  which  ought  ordinarily  to  be 
left  to  Minifters,  and  the  other  of  which  may  and 
ought  to  be  praaifed  by  the  People,  may  be  ex- 
prefs'd  by  thofe  two  Names  oi  Preaching,  md  Ex- 
horting in  a  Way  of  Chrijiian  Converfation.  But 
then  a  great  deal  of  Difficulty  &  Controverfy  arifes 
to  determine  what  is  Preaching,  and  what  is  Chri- 
ftian Converfafmu  However  I  will  humbly  ofFer 
my  Thoughts  concerning  this  Subjeft  of  Lay- 
Exhorting,  as  follows.  - 

I.  The  common  People  in  exhorting  one  ano- 
ther ought  not  to  cloath  themfelves  with  the  like 
Dd  Au- 


^8  Of  Lay-Exhorting.  Pa.  IVi 


« 


Authority  with  that  which  is  proper  for  Miniftcrs. 
There  is  a  certain  Authority  that  Minifters  have, 
and  fnould  exercife  in  teaching,  as  well  as  govern- 
ing the  Flock.     Teaching  is  fpoken  of  in  Scrip- 
ture as  an.  Aa  of  Authority,   i  Tim.  2.  12.     In 
order  to  a  Man's  preaching,  fpecial  Authority  mufl 
be  committed  to  him.     Rom.  10.  15.  How /hall 
they  preach.,  except  they  be  fent  ?     Minifters  in  this 
Work  of  Teaching  &  Exhorting  are  cloath'd  with  * 
Authority,  as  Christ's  Meflengers,  {MaL2.^.) 
.ind  as  reprefenting  him,  and  fo  fpeaking  in  his 
Name,  and  in  his  Stead,  2  Cor.  5-  18,  19,  20. 
And  it  feems  to  be  the  moft  honourable  Thing 
that  belongs  to  the  Office  of  a  Minifter  of  the  * 
Gofpel,  that  to  him  is  committed  the  Word  of 
Reconciliation,  and  that  he  has  Power  to  preach 
tlie  Gofpel,  as  Christ's  Meflenger,  and  fpeak- 
ing in  his  Name.     The  Apoftle  feems  to  fpeak  of  - 
it  as  fuch,  I  Cor.  1.  16,  17.     Minifters  therefore  , 
in  the  Exercife  of  this  Power,   may  cloath  them- 
felves  with  Authority  in  fpeaking,  or  may  teach 
others  in  an  authoritative  Manner.     Tit.   2.   15.  ^ 
Thefe  Things  fpeak  and  exhort.,  and  rebuke  with  all  ^ 
Authority  :   Let  no  Man  defpife  thee.  But  the  com-    ' 
mon  People  in  exhorting  one  another,  ought  noti  - 
thus  to  exhort  in  an  authoritative  Manner.  There  : 
is  a  great  deal  of  DifFerence  between  teaching  as 
a  Father  amongft  a  Company  of  Children,  &  coun- 
felling  in  a  brotherly  Way^   as  the  Children  may 
kindlv  counfel  and  admonifhone  another.      Tholt 
that  are  meer  Brethren,  ought  not  to  aflume  At- 
♦h'irity.in  exhorting,  tho'  one  may  be  better,  aro 
"},ve  more  Experience  than  another.     Lay-mci^ 

oil  eh: 


Pa.  IV.  Of  Lay-Exhorting.  309 

ought  not  to  exhort  as  tho*  they  were  the  Am- 
bafTadors  or  Meflengers  of  Christ,  as  Minifters 
do  ;  nor  ftiould  they  exhort  and  warn  and  charge 
in  his  Name^  according  to  the  ordinary  Import  of 
fuch  an  Expreflionj  when  applied  to  Teaching: 
Indeed  in  one  Senfe,  a  Chriftian  oQght  to  do  every 
Thing  he  does  in  Religion  in  the  Namcof  Chrift> 
i.  e.  He  ought  to  aft  in  a  Dependance  on  him  as 
his  Head  and  Mediator,. and  do  all  for  his  Glory  : 
But  the  Expreffion  as  it  isufually  underftood,when 
applied  to  Teaching  or  Exhorting,  is  fpeaking  in 
CHRisT*sStead,  &  as  having  a  Meflage  from  him. 
Perfons  may  cloath  themfelves  with  Authority 
in  fpeaking,  either  by  the  authoritative  Words  they 
make  Ufe  of,  or  in  the  Manner,  and  authoritative 
Air  of  their  fpeaking :  Tho*  Tome  may  think  that 
this  latter  is  a  Matter  of  IndiiFerency,  or  at  leaft 
of  fmall  Importance,  yet  there  is  indeed  a  great 
deal  in  it :  a  Perfon  may  go  much  out  of  his  Place, 
and  be  guilty  of  a  great  Degree  of  Afluming,  in 
the  Manner  of  his  (peaking  thofe  Words,  which 
as  they  might  be  fpoken,  might  be  proper  for  him : 
The  fame  Words  fpoken  in  a  different  Manner, 
may  exprefs  what  is  very  diverfe  :  Doubtlefs  there 
may  be  as  much  Hurt  in  the  Manner  of  a  Perfon*s 
fpeaking,  as  there  may  in  his  Looks  ;  but  the  wife 
Man  tells  us, that  an  high  Look  is  an  Abomination  I0 
the  Lord^  Prov.  21.4.  Again,  a  Man  may  cloath 
himfelf  with  Authority,  in  the  Circumftances  un- 
der  which  he  fpeaks  \  as  for  Inftance,  if  he  fets 
himfelf  upas  a  publick  Teacher.  Here  I  would  have 
it  obferved,  that  I  don't  fuppofe  that  a  Perfon  is 
guilty  of  this,  meerly  becaufe  he  fpeaks  in  the 
D  d  2  Hearing 


5 1  o  Of  LayExhorting.  Pa  .'  ^V^1p I 

Heading  of  many :  Perfons  may  fpeak,  an4  fpeak 
only  in  a  Way  of  Converfation,  and  yet  fpeak  in 
the  Hearing  of  a  great  Number,  as  they  often  do 
in  their  common  Converfation  about  temporal 
Things^  at  Feaft^  and  Entertainments,  whcretV'o- 
men  as  well  as  others,  do  converfe  freely  together 
about  WQrldlyThingSyin  the  hearing  of  a  confidera- 
ble  Number  ;  and  it  raay  happen  to  be  in  the 
Hearing  of  a  great  Number,  and  yet  witht>ut  Of- 
fence :  And  if  their  Converfation  on  fuch  Occa- 
fionsfliould turn  onfpiritual  Things,  &  they  {hould 
fpeak  as  freely  and  openly,  Idon't  fee  why  it  would 
not  be  as  harmlefs.  Nor  do  I  think,  that  if  befides 
a  great  Number's  being  prefent,  Perfons  fpeak 
with  a  very  earneft  and  loud  Voice,  this  is  for 
them  to  fet  up  themfelves  as  publick  Teachers, 
if  they  de  it  from  no  Contrivance  or  premedi- 
tated Defign,  or  as  purpofely  direfting  them- 
felves to  a  Congregation  or  Multitude,  and 
BOt  fpeaking  to  any  that  are  compofed  to  the  So- 
lemnity of  any  publick  Service  ;  but  fpeaking  in 
the  Time  of  Converfation,  or  a  Time  when  all  do 
freely  converfe  one  with  another,  they  exprefs  what 
\  they  then  feel,  direfting  themfelves  to  none  but 
'  thofe  that  are  near  'em,  and  fall  in  their  Way, 
peaking  in  that  earneft  and  pathetical  Manner,  to 
which  the  Subjeft  they  are  fpeaking  of,  and  the 
afFefting  Senfe  of  their  Souls  naturally  leads  them,  i 
and  as  it  were  conftrains  them  :  I  fay,  that  for  Per-  1 
!  fons  to  do  thus,  tho'  many  happen  to  hear  them,      \ 

yet  it  don't  appear  to  me  to  be  a  fetting  themfelves 
..  ^»p  as  publick  Teachers  :  Yea^if  this  be  added  to 
'  tiiefe  other  Circumftances,  that  all  this  happens  to 

be 


Pa  .  IV.  Of  Lay-Exborting.  3  x  i 

i;e  in  a  Meeting-Houfe  ;  I  don't  think  that  meerly 
its  being  in  fuch  a  Place,  much  alters  the  Cafe., 
provided  the  Solemnity  of  publick  Service  and  di- 
vine Ordinances.be  over,  and  the  folemn  Aflem- 
bly  broke  up,  and  fome  ftay  in  the  Houfe  for  mu- 
tual religious  Converfation ;  provided  alfo  that 
they  fpeak  in  no  authoritative  Way,  but  in  an 
humble  Manner,becoming  their  Degree  &  Station^ 
tho'  they  fpeak  very  eameftly  and  pathetically. 

Indeed  Modefty  might  in  ordinary  Cafes,  re- 
ftrain  fome  Perfons,  as  Women,  and  thofe  that  arc 
young,  from  fo  much  as  fpeaking,  when  a  great 
Number  are  prefent ;  at  leaft,  when  fome  af  thofe 
prefent  are  much  their  Superiours,  unlefs  they  are 
fpoken  to  :  And  yet  the  Cafe  may  be  {q  extraordi- 
nary, as  fully  to  warrant  it.     If  fomething  very- 
extraordinary  happens  to  Perfons,  or  it'they  ar^" 
in  extraordinary  Circumftances  :  as  if  a  Perfon  h 
ftruck  with  Lightning,  in  the  midfl  of  a  grea 
Company,  or  if  he  lies  a  dying,  it  appears  to  nonr 
any  Violation  of  Modefty,  for  him  to  fpeak  fredv 
before  thofe  that  are  much  his  Superiours^    Ihav 
feen  fome  Women  and  Children  in  fuch  Circum 
ftances,  on  religious  Accounts,  that  it  has  appear' : 
tx>  me  no  more  a  tranfgreffing  the  Laws  ©f  Humi 
lity  and  Modefty,  for  them  to  fpeak  freely^  let 
who  will  be  prefent,  than  if  they  were  dying. 

But  then  may  a  Man  be  faid  to  fet  up  himfelf 
as  a  publick  Teacher,  when  he  m  a  fet  Speech^  of 
Defign,  diredts  himfelf  to  a  Multitude,  either  i: 
the  Meeting-Houfe  or  elfewhere,  as  lookii^  tha 
ithey  fhould  compofe  themfeives  to  attend  to  wha 
i^«  has  to  fay  3  and  much  more  wbeathis  is  a  cor 
D  d  3  triv4 


312  Of  Lay-Exhorting.  Pa.  IV,       j 

trivcd  &  premeditated  Thing,  without  any  thing 
]ikc  a  Conftraint,  by  any  extraordinary  Senfe  or 
AiFeftion  that  he  is  then  under  ;  and  more  ftill, 
when  Meetings  arc  appointed  on  Purpofe  to  hear 
Lay-Perfons  exhort,  and  they  take  it  as  their  Bu- 
fmtfs  to  be  Speakers,  while  they  expeft  that  others 
fhould  come,  and  compofe  themfelves,  and  attend 
as  Hearers  j  when  private  Chriftians  take  it  upon 
them  in  private  Meetings,  to  ad  as  the  Matters 
or  Prefidents  of  the  Aflembly,  and  accordingly 
from  Time  to  Time  to  teach  and  exhort  the  reft, 
this  has  the  Appearance  of  authoritativeTeaching. 
When  private  Chriftians,  that  are  ho  more  than 
meer  Brethren,  exhort  and  admonifh  one  another, 
it  ought  to  be  in  an  humble  Manner,  rather  by 
Way  of  Intreaty,  than  with  Authority  ;  and 
the  more,  according  as  the  Station  of  Perfons  is 
lower.  Thus  it  becomes  Women,  and  thofe  that 
are  young,  ordinarily  to  be  at  a  greater  Diftance 
from  any  Appearance  of  Authority  in  fpeaking 
than  others  :  Thus  much  at  leaft  is  evident  by  that 

4  in  I  Tim.  2.  9,  ii,  12. 

That  Lay-Perfons  ought  not  to  exhort  oneano- 
Xier  as  cloathed  with  Authority,  is  a  general  Rule  ; 
Jilt  it  can't  juftly  be  fuppofed  to  extend  to  Heads 
of  Families  in  their  ownFamilies.  Every  Chriftian 
Family  is  a  little  Church,  and  the  Heads  of  it  are 
its  authoritative  Teachers  and  Govcrnours.  Nor 
can  it  extend  to  School-Mafters  among  his  Scho- 
iars ;  and  fome  other  Cafes  might  perhaps  be  m^* 
tion^d,  that  ordinary  Difcretion  will  diftinguifh, 
tvhere  a  Man's  Circumftances  do  properly  cloatb 
'  liim  with  Authgrity,  aad  render  it  fit  and  fuitable 

i  *^^ 


Pa.  IV.  Of  Lay- Exhorting.  313 

for  him  to  counfel  and  admoniih  others  in  an  au- 
thoritative Manner. 

2.  No  Man  but  only  a  R4inifter  that  is  duely 
appointed  to  that  facred  Calling,  ought  to  follow 
Teaching  and  Exhorting  as  a  Callings  or  fo  as  to 
negleft  that  which  is  his  proper  Calling.  An  ha- 
ving the  Office  of  a  Teacher  in  the  Church  of  God 
implies  two  Things,  i.  A  being  inverted  with  the 
-^«//6^r//y  of  a  Teacher  ;  and  2.  A  being  called  to 
the  Bufmefs  of  a  Teacher,  to  make  it  the  Bufinefs 
of  his  Life.  Therefore  that  Man  that  is  not  a 
Minifter,  that  takes  either  of  thefe  upon  him,  in- 
vades the  Office  of  a  A4inifter.  Concerning 
afTuming  the    Authority  of   a    Minrfter  I  have 

^^"Tpoken  already.  But  if  a  Lay-man  don*t 
aflume  Authority  in  his  Teaching,  yet  if  he  for- 
fakes  his  proper  Calling,  or  doth  fo  at  leaft  in  a 
great  Mcafure,  &  fpends  his  Time  in  going  about  , 
from  Houfe  to  Houfe,  to  counfel  and  exhort,  he 
goes  beyond  his  Line,  and  violates  Chriftian  Rules. 
Thofe  that  have  the  Office  of  Teachers  or  Exhor- 
tefs,  have  it  for  their  Calling,  and  fhould  make  it 
their  Bufmefs,  as  a  Bufmefs  proper  to  their  Office  ; 
and  none  (hould  make  it  their  Bufmefs  but  fuch 
Rom.  12.  3,  4,  5,  7,  8.  For  I  fay^  through  ihi 
Grace  given  unto  me^  to  every  Man  that  is  among  you , 
not  to  think  of  himf elf  more  highly  than  he  ought  to 
think  ;  but  to  think  foberly^  according  as  GOD  hath 
dealt  to  every  Man  the  Proportion  of  Faith*  For  as 
we  have  many  Members^  in  one  Body^  and  ail  Mem^ 
bers  have  not  the  fame  Office  \  fo  we  being  many^  are 
me  Body  in  Chriji. — He  that  teachethy  let  him  wait 

■  -m  Teachings  or  he  that  exhorteiby  on  Exhortation^ 

1CW4 


I  %4M4 


314  0/  Lay-E:^hortin^.  Pa.  IV. 

I  Cor.  1 2 .  29.  Jre  all  ApaJiUi  ?n.  Arez nHvSr»^ 
phets  ?  JreGllTeachers  ?  i  Cor.  7.  20.  Let  every 
Man  abide  in  the  fame  Calling  wherein  he  was  called » 
I  Thef.  4.  II.  Jnd  that  yejiiidy  to  be  quiet ^  and  to 
do  your  own  Bufinefs^  and  to  work  zvith  your  own 
Hands  J  as  we  corjimanded  you. 

It  will  be  a  very  dangerous  Thing  for  Lay-men, 
in  either  of  thefe  Refpedte,  to  invade  the  Office  of 
a  Minifter ;  if  this  be  common  among  us  we  fhall 
be  in  Danger  af  having  a  Stop  put  to  the  Work  of 
Go  D,  and  the  Ark's  turning  afide  from  us,  before 
it  comes  to  Mount  Z//?;?,  and  of  God^s  making  a 
Breach  upon  us  ;  as  of  old  there  was  an  unhappy 
Stop  put  to  thejoy  of  theCongregation  of  Ifrael^m 
bringing  up  the  Ark  of  God,  becaufe  others  car- 
ried it  befides  the  Levites :  And  therefore  D'avidy 
when  the  Error  was  found  out,  fays,  i  Chron.  15. 
^  2.  None  ought  to  carry  the  Ark  of  GOD^  hut  the  Le^ 
vites  only  ;  for  them  hath  the  Lord  chofen  to  carry  the 
Ark  of  God^  ^nd  to  minijier  unto  him  for  ever.  And 
feecaufe  one  prefumed  to  touch  the  Ark  that  was 
Wt  of  the  Sons  of  Aaron^  therefore  the  Lord  made 
iX  Breach  upon  them,  and  covered  their  Day  of 
r  kcioicing  with  a  Cloud  in  his  Anger. 

Before  I  difmifs  this  Head  of  Lay- Exhorting,  I 
ould  take  Notice  of  three  Things  relating  to  it, 
upon  which  there  ought  to  be  a  Reflraintv- 

I .  Speaking  in  the  Time  of  the  folemn  Wor- 

,fii:p  of  God,  as  publick  Prayer,    Singing,   01 

./Preaching,  or  Adminiftration^f  the  Sacrament  of 

rthe  Holy  Supper;  or  any  Duty  of  focial  Worfhip\ 

his  Ihould  hot  bediawed,.    I  know  it  will  be^ 

id,  that  iaibme  Cafes^wh^  Perfons  are  exceed-^ 

:  iiagly 


kk 


P  A .  1\' .  Of  Lay-  Exhorting.  3 1 5 

ingly  afF^cled,  they  ctmnot  help  it ;-  and^  I  beheve 
fo  too  :  but  then  I  alfo  believe,  and  know  by  Ex- 
perience, that  there  are  feveral  Things  that  can- 
l^xibute  to  that  Inability,  befides  meerly  and  abfor- 
lutely  the  Senfc  of  divine  Things  they  have  upon 
theirHearts.  Cuflom  and  Example,or  the  Thing's 
being  allowed,  have  fuch  an  Influence,  that  they 
adlually  help  to  make  it  impoflible  for  Perfons  un- 
der ftrong  Affe£lions  to  avoid  fpeaking.  If  it  was 
difalIowed,and  Perfons  at  the  Time  that  they  were 
thus  difpofed  to  break  out,  had  this  ApprehenHon^ 
that  it  would  be  a  very  unbecoming,{hockingThing 
fbr  'em  fo  to  do,  it  would  be  a  Help^laB  'em,  as  to 
tlieir  Abihty  to  avoid  it:  Their  Inability  arifesfrom 
their  flrong  and  vehement  Difpofition  \  and  fofar 
as  that  Difpofuion  is  from  a  good  Principle,  it 
would  be  weaken'd  by  the  coming  in  of  this  Tho't 
to  their  Minds,  I'/z.^' What  I  am  going  to  da, will 
be  for  the  Difhonour  of  Christ  and  Religion  : 
And  fo  that  inward  Vehemence,  that  pulhed  'em 
forward  to  fpeak,  would  fall,  and  they  would  be 
enabled  to  avoid  it.     This  Experience  confirms, 

2.  There  ought  to  be  a  moderate  Reftraint  01  | 
the  Loudnefs  of  Perfons  talking  under  high  Affec 
tions  ;  for  if  there  be  not,  it  will  grow  natural  anc 
unavoidable  for  Perfons  t©  be  louder  and  louder 
without  any  Ir.cr.eaie  of  their  inward  Senfe  j  'til 
it  becomes  natural  to  'em,  at  laft,  to  fcream  anc 
hallow  to  almoft  every  one  they  fee  in  the  Streets, 
when  they  are  muchaffeded  :  But  this  is  certain| 
a  Thing  very  improper,  and  what  has  no  Tendenjj 
to  promote  Religion.  The  Man  ChristJesT 
v/hen  he  was  upon  Earth,  had  doubtlefs  as  great] 


3i6  Irreverent  Singing. '        Pa.  IV. 

Senfc  of  the  infinite  Greatncfs  and  Importance  ot 
eternal  Things,  and  the  Worth  of  Souls,  as  any 
have  now-a-days  ;  but  there  is  not  the  leaft  Ap- 
pearance in  his  Hiftory,  of  his  taking  any  fuch 
Courfc,  or  Manner  of  exhorting  others* 

3.  There  ftiould  alfo  be  fome  Reftraint  on  the 
abundance  of  Perfons  Talk,  under  ftrong  Affe6li- 
ons ;  for  if  Perfons  give  themfdves  an  unbounded 
Liberty,  to  talk  juft  fo  much  as  they  feel  an  Incli- 
nation to,  they  will  increafe  and  abound  more  and 
more  in  Talk,  beyond  the  Proportion  of  their  Scnfe 
or  AfFeftion  ;  'till  at  length  it  will  become  inef- 
jfe^Sual  on  thofe  that  hear  them,  and  by  the  Com- 
lonnefs  of  their  abundant  Talk,  they  will  defeat 
leir  own  End. 

One  Thing  more  I  would  take  Notice  of  be- 
fore I  conclude  this  Part,  is  the  Mifmanagement 
that  has  been  in  fome  Places  of  the  Duty  of  fing- 
]ng  Praifes  to  God.     I  believe  it  to  have  been  one 
ruit  of  the  extraordinary  Degrees  of  the  fweet 
id  joyful  Influences  of  the  Spirit  of  God  that 
Nave  been  lately  given,  that  there  hasappear'd  fuch 
\pifpofition  to  abound  in  that  Duty,  &  frequently 
Yall  into  this  divine  Exercife  \  not  only  in   ap- 
Inted  folemn  Meetings,  but  when  Chriftians  oc- 
^lonallymeet  together  at  each  other'sHoufes.  But 
le  Mifmanagement  I  have  Refpefl  to,  is  the  get- 
hg  into  a  Way  of  performing  it,  without  aimoft 
ly  Appearance  of  that  Reverence  and  Solemnity 
\h  which  all  vifible,  open  Afts  of  divine  Wor- 
ought  to  be  attended  ^  it  may  be  two  or  three 
Room  Tinging  Hymns  ofPraife  to  God, others 
are  prefent  talking  at  the  fame  Time,  others 

about 


Pa.  IV.         Singing  in  the  Streets.  3 1 7 

about  their  Work,  with  little  more  Appearance 
of  Regard  to  what  is  doing,  than  if  fome  were  only  ^ 
fmging  a  common  Song,  for  their'Amufement  and 
Diverfion.  There  is  Danger,  if  fuch  Things  are 
continued,  of  its  coming  to  that  by  Degrees,  that 
a  meer  Nothing  be  made  of  this  Duty, to  the  great 
Violation  of  the  third  Commandment.  Let  Chri- 
ftians  abound  as  much  as  they  will  in  this  holy, 
heavenly  Exercife,  in  God's  Houfe  and  in  their 
own  Houfes  ;  but  when  it  is  performed,  let  it  be 
performed  as  an  holy  A61,  wherein  they  have  im- 
mediately and  vifibly  to  do  with  God.  When 
any  focial  open  Adi  of  Devotion,  orfolemn  Wor- 
fhip  of  Gon  is  performed,  God  fhould  be  reve- 
renced as  vifibly  prefent,  by  thofe  that  are  prefent. 
As  we  would  not  have  the  Ark  of  Go  n  depart 
from  us,  nor  provoke  God  to  make  a  Breach  upon 
us,  we  ftiould  take  Heed  that  we  handle  the  Ark 
with  Reverence. 

With  Refpedl  to  Companies  fmging  in  the 
Streets,  going  to,  or  coming  from  the  Place  of  pub- 
lick  Worfhip,  I  would  humbly  ofter  my  Thoughts 
in  the  following  Particulars. 

I.  The  Rule  of  Christ  concerning />z////;z^ 
rtroj  JFim  into  old  Bottles^  does  undoubtedly  take 
Place  in  Things  of  this  Nature,  fuppofmg  it  to  be 
a  Thing  that  in  it  felf  is  good,  but  not  eflential, 
and  not  particularly  enjoin'd  or  forbidden.  For 
Things,  fo  very  new  &  uncommon,  and  of  fo  open 
and  publick  a  Nature,  to  be  fuddcniy  introduced 
and  fet  up  &  pradifed,  in  many  Par^s  of  the  Coun- 
try, without  the  Matter's  be'ing  fo  much  as  firft 
propofed  to  any  pubiick  Confideration;  or  giving 

any 


giS         Singing  tn  the  Streets.         Pa.  \\  . 

any  Opportunity  for  the  People  of  God  to  weigh 
the  Matter,  or  to  confider  any  P^eafons  that  might 
be  offered  to  fupport  it,  is  putting  new  Wine  into 
<)ld  Bottks  with  a  Witnefs ;  as  if  it  were  with  no 
other  Dcfign  than  to  burft  them  diredly.    Nothing 
elfe  can  beexpe<51cd  to  be  theConfequence  of  this, 
than  Uproar  and  Confufion,  and  great  OfFence,and 
unhappy   mifchievous  Bifputes,  even  among  the 
ChildrenofGoD  themfelves:  Not  that  that  which 
is  good  in  it  felf,  and  is  new,  ought  to  be  forborn, 
'till  there  is  no  Body  that  will  diflike  it ;  but  it 
ought  to  be  forborn  'till  the  vifible  Church  of  God 
is  fo  prepared  for  it,  at  leaft,  that  there  is  a  Pro- 
bability that  itwill  not  do  more  Hurt  than  Good, 
or  hinder  the  Work  of  God  more  than  promote 
it  'y  as  is  moft  evident  from  Christ's  Rule,  and 
the  Apoflles  Pra6lice.     If  it  be  brought  in,  when 
the  Country  is  fo  unprepared,  that  the  Shock  and 
Surprize  on  Perfons  Minds,  and  the  Contention  and 
Prejudice  againft  Religion,  that  it  is  like  to  be  an 
Occafion  of,  will  do  more  to  hinder  Religion,  than 
the  Pra6tice  of  it  is  like  to  do  to  promote  it,  then 
the  Fruit  is  pick'd  before  'tis  ripe.     And  indeed, 
fuch  an  hafty  Endeavour  to  introduce  fuch  an  In- 
novation, fuppofmg  it  to  be  good  in  it  felf,  is  the 
likelieft  Way  to  retard  the  efFecftual  Introdudlion 
of  i  t ;  it  will  hmder  its  being  extenfively  introdu- 
ced,much  more  than  it  will  promote  it^and  fo  will 
defeat  its  own  End.     But 

2.  As  to  the  Thing  it  felf.  If  a  confiderable  Part 
of  a  Congregation  have  Occafion  to  go  in  Com- 
pany together  to  a  Place  of  publick  Worfhip,  and 
they  fhould  join  together  in  f  inging  Praifes  to  God  , 

^    as 


Pa .  IV.         Singing  in  the  Streets.  3 1 9 

as  they  go,  I  confefs,  that  after  longConfideration, 
and  endeavouring  to  view  the  Thing  every  Way, 
v/ith  the  utmoft  Deligence  and  Impartiahty  I  am 
capable  of,  I  cannot  find  any  vahd  Obje£tion  againft 
it.  As  to  the  common  Objeilion  from  Mat.  6t  5. 
uindivhcn  thou  pray  eft.,  thou  Jhalt  not  be  as  the  Hypo- 
crites  are  ;  for  they  love  to  pray  Jianding  in  the  Syna- 
gogues^ and  in  the  Corners  of  the  Streets^  that  they 
77iay  befeen  of  Men.  It  is  flrong  againft  a  fingle 
Pe'rfon's  finging  in  the  Streets,  or  in  the  Meeting- 
Houfe,  by  himfelf,  as  ofFering  to  God  perfonal 
Worfliip  5  but  as  it  is  brought  againft  a  confidera- 
ble  Company,  their  thus  puMickly  worfliipping 
Gon,  it  appears  to  me  to  have  no  Weight  at  all ; 
to  be  fure  it  is  of  no  more  Force  againft  a  Com- 
pany's thus  praifing  God  in  the  Streets,  than 
againft  their  praifing  him  in  the  Synagogue  or 
Meeting-Houfe,for  theStreets&c  theSynagogues  are 
both  put  together  in  thefe  Words  of  our  Saviour, 
as  Parallel  in  the  Cafe  that  he  had  RefpeA  to.  'Tis 
evident  that  Christ  fpeaks  of  perfonal,  and  not 
publick  Worftiip.  If  to  fing  in  the  Streets  be 
oftentatious,  then  it  muft  be  becaufe  it  is  a  pub- 
lick  Place,  and  jt  can't  be  done  there  without  be- 
ing very  open  ;  but  it  is  no  more  publick  than  the 
Synagogue  or  Meeting-Houfe  is  when  full  of  Peo- 
ple. Some  Worftiip  is  in  its  Nature  private,  as 
that  which  is  proper  to  particular  Perfons,  or  Fa- 
milies, or  private  Societies,  &  has  Refpect  to  their 
particular  Concerns  :  But  that  which  I  now  fpeak 
of,  js  performed  under  no  other  Notion  than  a  Part 
3f  God's  publick  Worftiip,  without  any  Relation 
:o  any  private,  feparate  Society,  or  any  chofen  or 
E  e       ^ 


3^o        Singing  in  the  Streets.         Pa.  IV. 

pick'd  Number,  and  in  which  every  vifible  Chri- 
ilian  has  equal  Liberty  to  join,  if  it  be  convejiient 
for  him,  and  he  has  a  Difpofition,  as  in  the  Wor- 
fhip  that  is  performed  in  the  Meeting-Houfe. 
When  Perfons  are  going  to  the  Houfe  of  publick 
Worfliip,  to  ferve  God  there  with  the  Aflembly 
of  his  People,  they  are  upon  no  other  Defign  than 
that  of  putting  publick  Honour  upon  God,  that 
is  the  Bufmefs  they  go  from  Home  upon,  and  even 
in  their  walking  the  Streets  on  this  Errand,  they 
appear  in  a  publick  ASt  of  Refpeft  to  God  ;  and 
therefore  if  they  go  in  Company  with  publick 
Praife,  ^tis  not  a  being  publick  when  they  ought 
to  be  private.  'Tis  one  Part  of  the  Beauty  of  pub- 
lick Worfhip,  that  it  be  very  publick ;  the  more 
publick  it  is,  the  more  open  Honour  it  puts  upon 
God  ;  and  efpecially  is  it  beautiful  in  that  Part 
of  publick  Worfhip,  viz.  publick  Praife  ;  For  ^e 
very  Notion  of  publick  praifmg  of  God,  is  to  de- 
clare abroad  his  Glory,  to  publifh  his  Praife,  to 
make  it  known,  and  proclaim  it  aloud,  as  is  ^evi- 
dent by  innumerableExpreffions  of  Scripture.  'Tis 
fit  that  Gop's  Honour  fhould  not  be  concealed, 
but  made  known  in  the  great  Congregation,  and 
proclaimed  before  the  Sun,  and  upon  the  Houfe- 
Tops,  before  Kinss,  and  all  Nations,  and  that  his 
Praifes  fhould  be  heard  to  the  utmofl  Ends  of  the 

Earth.  ,  _     .       n  r.'>o 

I  fuopofe  none  will  condemn  fingmg  Cjod  s 
Praifes;  meerlv  becaufe  'tis  performed  in  the  open 
Air,  and  not  in  a  clofe  Place  :  And  if  it  may  be 
performed  by  a  Company  in  the  open  Air  doubt- 
Utheyinr'doit  moving,  as   well  as  flandir^ 


Pa.  IV.         Singing  in  the  Streets.         3^1    I 

ftiU.     So  the  Children  of  //r^^/praifed  GoD,when 
they  went  to  Mount  Zion,  with  the  Ark  of  God  y 
and  fo  the  Multitude  pralfed  Christ,  when  they 
entred  with  him  into  Jerufalem,  zYittXt  before  his 
Paffion  ;  and  fo  the  Children  of  Ifrael  were  wont, 
^  from  Year  to  Year,  to  go  up  to  Jerufalem,  when 
they  went  in  Companies,  from  all  Parts  ot  the 
Land,  three  Times  in  the  Year,  when  they  often 
ufed  to  manifeft  the  Engagednefs  of  their  Mmds, 
by  travelling  all  Night,  and  manifefted  their  Joy 
and  Gladnefs,  by  finging  Praifes,  with  great  De- 
cency and  Beauty,  as  they  went  towards  God's 
holy  Mountain  ;  as  is  evident  by  Ifa.  30.  29.  Te 
Jhallhave  a  Song^  as  in  the  Nighty  when  a  holy  So- 
lemnity is  kept,  and  Gladnefs  of  Heart ;  as  when  om 
goeth  with  a  Pipe,  to  come  into  the  Mountain  of  the 
Lord,  to  the  mighty  Ow^^/Hrael.  -  AndPfal.  42.  4. 
IVhen  I  remember  thefe  Things,  1  pour  out  my  Soul 
in  me  ;  for  I  had  gone  with  the  Multitude,  I  went 
with  them  to  the  Houfeof  God,  with  the  Voice  of  Joy 
and  Praife,  with  a  Multitude  that  kept  holy  Day. 
Pfal.  100.  4.   Enter  into  his  Gates  with  "Thankf- 
giving,  and  into  his  Courts  with  Praife.     When 
God's  People  are  going  to  his  Houfe,  the  Occafion 
is  fo  joyful  to  a  Chriftian  in  a  lively  Frame,  (the 
Language  of  whofe  Heart  is.   Come,  let  us  go  up  to 
the  Houfe  of  the  Lord,   and  who  is  glad  when  it  is 
fo  faid  to  him,)  that  the  Duty  of  finging  Praifes 
feems  to  be  peculiarly  beautiful  on  fuch  an  Occa- 
fion.     So  that  if  the  State  of  the  Country  was  ripe 
for  it,  and  it  fhould  be  fo  that  there  ftiould  be  fre- 
quent Occafions  for  a  confiderable  Part  of  a  Con- 
gregation, to  go  together  to  the  Places  of  publick 
E  e  2  Wor- 


32  2         Singing  in  the  Streets,.         Pa.  IV. 

Worihip,  and  there  was  in  other  Refpefts  a  pro- 
portionable Appearance  of  Fervency  of  De- 
votion, it  appears  to  me  that  it  would  be  i-avifti- 
ingly  beautiful,  if  fuch  Things  were  praftifed  all 
over  the  Land,  and  would  have  a  great  Tendency 
to  enliven,  animate  and  rejoice  the  Souls  of  God  4 
Saints,  and  greatly  to  propagate  vital  Religion.  I 
believe  the  Time  is  coming  when  the  World  will 
be  full  of  fuch  Things. 

3.  It  feems  to  me  to  be  requifite  that  there 
Ihould  be  the  Confent  of  the  gov^ning  Part  of  the 
Tvorfhipping  Societies,to  which  Perfons  have  join'd 
themfclves,  and  of  which  they  own  themfelves  a 
Part,  in  order  to  the  introducing  of  Things  in  pub- 
Kck  Worihip,fo  new  &  uncommon,^  and  not  effen- 
tial,  nor  particularly  commanded,  into  the  Places 
where  thofe  worfhipping  Societies  belong  :  The 
Peace  and  Union  of  fuch  Societies  feems  to  require 
it  y  feeing  they  have  voluntarily  United  themfelves 
to  thefe  worfhipping  Societies,  to  that  End,  that 
they  might  be  one  in  the  Affairs  of  God's  pub- 
lick  Worfliip,  and  obliged  themfelves  in  Covenant 
to  aft  as  Brethren  &  mutual  Affiftants,  and  Mem- 
bers of  one  Body,  in  thofe  Affairs,  &  all  are  hereby 
naturally  and  neceffarily  led  to  be  concerned  with 
one  another,  in  Matters  of  Religion  and  Go n's 
Worfhip;  and  feeing  that  this  is  a  Part  of  the  pub- 
lick  Worfhip,  &  Worfliip  that  muft  be  perform 'd 
from  Time  to  Time  in  the  View  of  the  whole, 
being  performed  at  a  Time  when  they  ar^  meet- 
ing together  for  mutual  Affiflance  in  Worfliip-» 
and  therefore  that  which  all  mufl  unavoidably  be 
in  fomeMeafure  concerned  in,  fo  atleaflasto 

^  fhew 


Pa.  IV.         Singing  in  the  Streets.         323   "j, 

fhew  their  Approbation  &  Confent,  or  open  Dif-    ^ 

like  and  Separation  from  them  in  it  V  I  fay  it  be-    ^ 

ing  thus,  Charity  and  a  Regard  to  the  Union  and     ;| 

Pelce  of  fuch  Societies,  feems  to  require  a  Confint    | 

of  the  governing  Part,  in  order  to  the  introducing,    j 

any  Thing  of  this  Nature  ;  (unlefs  they  think  rfiofb    ! 

Societies  unworthy  that  they  fhould  h%  join'd  to    ij 

them  any  longer,  and  fo  firft  renounce  them,  as-    \ 

the  worfhipping  Societies  of  which  they  are  Mem-    '; 

bers.)  Certainly  if  we  are  of  the  Spirit  of  the    ,] 

Apoftle  Paul^  and  have  his  Difcretion,  we-  fliall    \ 

not  fet  up  any  fuch  Praflice  without  it :    He  fee    | 

the  Sake  of  Peace,  conformed,  inThings  wherein    j 

he  was  not  particularly  forbiddea,  to  the  JewSj-    | 

when  among  them  j  and  fo  when  among  thofo    ; 

that  were  without  the  Law,  conformed  to  them,    ; 

wherein  he  might.  —  To  be  fure  thofe  go  muclp   j 

beyond  proper  Limits,  who  coming  from  abroad,    i 

do  immediately  of  their  own  Heads,  in,  a  ftrange 

Place,  fet  up  fuch  a  new  and  uncommon  PraSice^- 

among  a  People. 

In  introducing  any  Thing  of  this  Nature  amoi^ 
a  People,  their  Minifter  efpeciajly  ought  to  be-- 
confulted,  and  his  Voice  taken,  as  long  as^  he^  is^ 
own'd  for  their  Minifter.  Minifters  are  Eaftors? 
of  worfhipping  Societies,  &  their  Heads  SeGiridea^ 
in  the  Affairs  of  publick  Worfliip.  They  arc 
called  in  Scripture,  thofe  that  rule  over  them^  and: 
their  People  are  commanded  />  ohey  thtm^  becsufe^ 
they  watch  for  their  Souls ^  as  thofe  thai  mujhgiv^^ 
Jccount.  If  it  belongs  to  thefe  Shepherds  &  Rulers 
to  dire<a  and  guide  the  Flock  in-any  THn^  at  ai^. 


3^4  Evilljfue  of  fore-mention' d  Errors.  P.IV- 

it  belongs  to  'em  fo  to  do,  in  the  Circumftantials 
6f  their  publick  Worfhip. 

Thus  I  have  taken  particular  Notice  of  ipany 
CJf  thofe  Things  that  have  appeared  to  me  to  be 
amife,  in  the  Management  of  our  religious  Con- 
cerns, relating  to  the  prefent  Revival  of  Religion, 
and  have  taken  Liberty  freely  to  exprefs  my 
Thoughts  upon  them.  Upon  the  whole  it  appears 
manifeft  to  me,  that  Things  have  as  yet,  never 
been  fet  a-going  in  their  right  Channel  3  if  they 
had,  and  Means  had  been  blefs'd  in  Proportion  as 
they  have  been  now,  this  Work  would  have  {o 
prevailed,  as  before  this  Time  to  have  carried  all 
afore  it,  and  have  triumph'd  over  New- England  as 
its  Conqueft. 

The  Devil  in  driving  Things  to  thefe  Extremes, 
befides  the  prefent  Hindrance  of  the  Work  of 
God,  has,   I  believe,  had  in  Viev/,   a  two-fold 
Mifchief  hereafter,  in  the  Iflue  of  Things  ;  one 
with  Refpefl:  to  thofe  that  are  more  cold  in  Reli- 
gion J  to  carry  Things  to  fuch  an  Extreme,  that 
People  in  general,  at  length,  having  their  Eyes 
openM,  by  the  great  Excefs,  &  feeing  that  Things 
muft  needs  be  wrong,  he  might  take  the  Advan- 
tage to  tempt  them  entirely  to  rejed  the  whore 
Work,  as  being  all  nothing  but  Delufion  and  Dif- 
traaion.     And  another  is  with  Refpeft  to  thofe 
that  have  been  very  warm  and  zealous,  of  Gou  5 
own  Children,  that  have  been  out  of  the  Wa)s  to 
fink  them  down  in  Unbelief  an*Darknefs.     The 
Time  is  coming  I  doubt  not,  when  the  bigger  Part 
^    of  them  will  be  convinced  of  their  Errors  ;  and 
Oien  probably  the  Devil  wiU  take  Advantage  to 


Pa.IV.     Our  Need  of  Chrijl's  Help,      325 

lead  them  into  a  dreadful  Wildernefs,  &  to  puzzle 
and  confound  them  about  their  own  Experiences, 
and  the  Experiences  of  others  ;  and  to  make  them 
to  doubt  of  many  Things  that  they  ought  not  to 
doubt  of,  and  even  to  tempt  them  with  atheiftical 
Thoughts.  I  beh'eve  if  all  true  Chrirtians  all  over 
the  Land,  fhould  now  at  once  have  their  Eyes 
open'd,  fully  to  fee  all  their  Errors,  it  would  feem 
for  the  prefent  to  damp  Religion  :  The  dark 
Thoughts,  that  it  would  at  firft  be  an  Oceafion 
of,  and  the  inward  Doubts,  Difficulties  and  Con- 
flidls  that  would  rife  in  their  Souls,  would  deaden 
their  lively  Affections  and  Joys,  and  would.caufe 
an  Appearance  of  a  prefent  Decay  of  Reli- 
gion. But  yet  it  would  do  God's  Saints  great 
Good  in  their  latter  End  ;  it  would  fit  them  for 
more  fpiritual  and  excellent  Experiences,  more 
humble  and  heavenly  Love,  and  unraix'd  Joys,, 
and  would  greatlv  tend  to  a  more  powerful,  exten- 
five  and  durable  Prevalence  of  vital  Piety. 

I  don't  know  but  we  fhall  be  in  Danger  by  and 
by,  after  our  Eyes  are  fiilly  open'd/to  fee  our  Er- 
rors, to  go  to  contrary  Extremes.  The  Devil  has 
driven  the  Pendulum  far  beyond  its  proper  Point 
of  Reft  ;  and  when  he  has  carried  it  to  the  utmoft 
Length  that  he  can,  and  it  begins  by  its  own 
Weight  to  fwing  back,  he  probably  will  fet  in, 
and  drive  it  with  the  utmoft  Fury  the  other  Way  ; 
and  fo  give  us  no  Reft ;  and  if  poffible  prevent 
our  fettling  in  a  proper  Medium.  What  a  poor, 
blind,,  weak  and  miferabie  Creature  is  Man,  at 
his  bed  Eftate  !:  We  are  like  poor  helplefs  Sheep  5 
the  Devil  ia  toa  fubtle  for  us  :    What  Fs^  our 

Str^xjgjfel 


f 


3  2 6      O^r  Need  of  Chrijl's  Help.     Pa  .  IV. 

Strength  !  What  is  our  Wifdom  !  How  ready 
are  we  to  go  aftray  !  How  cafily  are  we  drawn 
afide,  into  innumerable  Snares,  while  we  in  the 
mean  Time  are  bold  and  confident,  and  doubt 
not  but  that  we  are  right  and  fafe  !  We  are 
foolifh  Sheep,  in  the  midft  of  fubtle  Serpents  and 
cruel  Wolves,  and  don't  know  it.  Oh  !  how 
unfit  are  we  to  be  left  to  our  felves  !  And  how 
much  do  we  ftand  in  Need  of  the  Wifdom,  the 
Power,  the  Condefcenfion,  Patience,  Forgivenefs 
and  Gentlenefs  of  our  good  Shepherd  f 


1 


PART 


PART   V. 

Shewing  pofitively,  what  ought 
to  be  done  to  promote  this 
WORK. 

IN  confidering  of  Means  and  Methods  for  pro- 
moting this  glorious  Work  of  God,  I  have 
already  obferved,  in  fomelnftances  wherein 
there  has  beenneedlefsobjedling  and  complaining, 
and  hive  alfo  taken  Notice  of  many  Things  amifs, 
that  ought  to  be  amended ;  I  now  proceed  m 
the 

Third  and  laft  Place^  to  fhew  pofitively,  what 
ought  to  be  done,  or  what  Courfes  (according  to 
my  humble  Opinion)  ought  to  be  taken  to  pro- 
mote this  Work.  The  Obligations  that  all  are 
under,  with  one  Confent,  to  do  their  utmoft,  and 
the  great  Danger  of  neglecting  it,  were  obferved 
before.  I  hope  that  fom^e,  upon  reading  what  was 
faid  under  that  Head,  will  be  ready  to  lay,  What 
fhall  ^we  do  ?  To  fuch  Readers  J  would  now 
offer  m.y  Thoughts,  in  Anfwer  to  fuch  an  Enquiry. 
And  that  which  I  think  we  ought  to  let  our 
felves  about  in  the  firft  Piace,  is  to  remove  Stum- 
bling-blocks. When  God  is  revealed,  as  about 
to  come,  glorioufly  to  fet  up  his  Kingdom  in  the 
World,  this- is  proclaimed ^  Prepare  ye  the  Way  of 


328  Of  Cdnf effing  Faults.  Pa.V* 

the  Lord^  make  Jlr ait  in  the  Defert  an  high  Way  for 
our  God^  Ifai.  40.  3.  And  again,  Ifai.  57.  14. 
Cajl  ye  up^  Caji  ye  up  ;  prepare  the  Way  ;  take  up 
the  Stmnhling'bhck  cut  of  the  Way  of  iny  People, 
And  Chap.  62.  10.  Go  through^  go  through  the 
Gates  ;  prepare  you  the  Way  of  the  People  ;  Caji  up  ^ 
Cajl  up  the  High-way  ;  gather  out  the  Stones, 

And  in  order  to  this,  there  muft  be  a  great  deal 
done  at  confeffing  of  Faults,  on  both  Sides  :  For 
undoubtedly  many  and  great  are  the  Faults  that 
have  been  committed,  in  the  Jangling  and  Confu- 
fions,  and  Mixtures  of  Light  and  Darknefs,  that 
have  been  of  late.  There  is  hardly  any  Duty  more 
contrary  to  our  corrupt  Difpofitions,  and  mortify- 
ing to  the  Pride  of  Man ;  but  it  muft  be  done. 
Repentance  of  Faults  is,  in  a  peculiar  Manner,  a 
proper  Duty,  when  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  at 
Hand,  or  when  we  efpecially  expeft  or  defire  that 
it  fhould  come  ;  as  appears  by  John  the  Baptiji's 
Preaching.  And  if  God  does  now  loudly  call 
upon  us  to  repent,then  he  alfo  calls  upon  us  tomake 
proper  Manifeftations  of  our  Repentance.  I  arn 
perfwaded  that  thofe  that  have  openly  oppofed  this 
Work,  or  have  from  Time  to  Time  fpoken  lightly 
of  it,  cannot  be  excufed  in  the  Sight  of  God, with- 
out openly  confeffing  their  Fault  therein  ;  efpe-^ 
cially  if  they  be  Mimftecs.  If  they  have  any  Way, 
cither  dire6tly  or  indirectly,  oppofed  the  Work, 
or  have  fo  behaved,  in  their  publick  Performances 
or  private  Converfation,  as  has  prejudiced  the 
Minds  of  their  People  againft  the^  Work,  if  here- 
after they  (hall  be  convinced  of  the  Good nefs  and 
Divinitv  of  what  they  have  oppofed,   they  ought 

by 


Pa.  V.  Of  confeffing  Faults.  329 

by  no  Means  to  palliate  the  Matter,  and  excufe 
themfelves,  and  pretend  that  they  always  thought 
fo,  and  that  it  was  only  fiich  &  fuch  Imprudences 
that  they  obje<5led  againft,  but  they  ought  openly 
to  declare  their  Convidlion,  and  condemn  them- 
felves  for  what  they  have  done  ;  for  'tis  Christ 
that  they  have  fpoken  againft,  in  fpeaking  lightly 
of,  and  prejudicing  others  againft  this  Work  ; 
yea,  worfe  than  that,  'tis  the  Holy  Ghoft.  And 
tho'  they  have  done  it  ignorantly,  and  in  Unbelief, 
yet  when  they  find  out  who  it  is  that  they  have 
oppofed,  undoubtedly  God  will  hold  them  bound 
publickly  to  confefs  it. 

And  on  the  other  Side,  if  thofe  that  have  been 
zealous  to  promote  the  Work,  have  in  any  of  the 
fore-mentioned  Inftances,  openly  gone  much  out 
of  the  Way,  and  done  that  which  is  contrary  to 
Chriftian  Rules,  whereby  they  have  openly  injur 'd 
others,  or  greatly  violated  good  Order,  and  fo 
done  that  which  has  wounded  Religion,  they  muft 
publickly  confefs  it,  and  humble  themfelves,  as 
they  would  gather  out  the  Stones,  and  prepare  the 
Way  of  God's  People.  They  who  have  laid  great 
Stumbling-blocks  in  others  Way,  by  their  open 
TranfgreJJion^  are  bound  to  remove  them,  by  their 
open  Repentance. 

Some  probably  will  be  ready  to  object  againft 
this,  that  theOppofers  will  take  Advantage  by  this. 
to  beha\\  themfelves  infolently,  and  to  infult  both 
them  and  Religion.  And  indeed,  to  the  Shame 
of  fome,  they  have  taken  Advantage  by  fuch 
Things  ;  as  of  the  good  Spirit  that  Mr.  Whitefield 
fhewed  in  his  Retradlations,  and  fome  others.  But 

if 


3JO  '      Of  mutual  Forbearance.       Pa.  V. 

if  there  are  feme  imbitter'd  Enemies  of  Religion, 
that  (land  ready  to  improve  every  Thing  to  its 
Difadvantage,  yet  that  ought  not  to  hinder  doing 
an  eiijoin'd  Chriftian  Duty  ;  tho'  it  be  in  the  Ma- 
nifefiation  of  Humility  and  Repentance,  after  a 
Fault  openly  committed.  To  fiand  it  out,  in  a 
vifible  Impenitence  of  a  real  Fault,  to  avoid  fuch 
an  Inconvenience,  is  to  do  Evil,  to  prevent  Evil. 
And  befides,  the  Danger  of  an  evil  Confequence  is 
much  greater  on  the  other  Side  :  To  commit  Sin, 
and  then  ftand  in  it,  is  what  will  give  the  Enemy 
the  greatefl:  Advantage.  For  Chriftians  to  atSl 
like  Chriftians,  in  openly  humbling  themfelves, 
when  they  have  openly  offended,  in  the  End  brings 
the  2:reateft  Honour  to  Christ  and  Religion  ; 
and  in  this  Way  are  Perfons  moft  likely  to  have 
God  appear  for  them. 

Again,  At  fuch  a  Day  as  this,  Gop  does  efpe- 
cially  call  his  People  to  the  Exercife  of  extraordi- 
nary Meeknefs  and  mutual  Forbearance  :  For  at 
fuch  a  Time,  Christ  appears  as  it  were  coming 
in  his  Kingdom,  which  calls  for  great  Moderation 
in  our  Behaviour  towards  all  Men  \  as  is  evident 
Phil.  4.  5.  J^^i  yo^^  Moderation  be  knotvn  unto  all 
Men  :  the  Lord  is  at  Hand.  The  Awe  of  the  di- 
vine Majefty  that  appears  prtfent  or  approaching, 
ftiould  difpofe  us  to  it,  and  deter  us  from  the<on- 
trary.  For  us  to  be  judging  one  another,  and  be- 
having with  Fiercenefs  and  BitternefsjOne  towards 
another,  when  he  who  is  the  Searcher  of  i-l  Hearts, 
to  whom  we  muft  all  give  an  Account,  appears  fo 
remarkably  prefent,  is  exceeding  unfuitable.  Our 
Bufmefii,  at  fuch  a  Tinte,  iliould  be   at  Home, 

fearching 


Pa.  V.       Of  mutual  Forbearance.        33^     ;; 

fearehing  our  felves^  and  condemning  our  felves,     ; 
and  taking  Heed  to  our  own  Behaviour.     If  there     ' 

-  be  glorious  Profperity  to  the  Church  of  God  ap- 
proaching, thofe  that  are  the  moft  meek,  will  have 
the  largeft  Share  in  it :  For  when  Christ  rides 
foith,  in  his  Glory  and  his  Majejly^  it  is  hecaufe  of 
Truth,  Meeknefsand  Righteoufnefs,  Pfal.  45.  3,  4* 
And  when  God  remarkably  arifes^  to  execute 
Judgment,  it  is  tofave  all  the  Meek  of  the  Earthy 
Pfal.  76.  9.  And  'tis  the  Meek,  xh^tjhall  increafe 
their  Joy  in  the  Lord^  Ifa.  29.  ig.  And  when  the 
Time  comes,  that  God  will  give  this  lower  World 
into  the  Hands  of  his  Saints,  it  is  the  Meek  that 
Jhall inherit  the  Earth,  Pfal.  37.  1 1,  and  Matth. 
5.  9.  But  with  thefroward,  God  will Jhew  himf elf 
unfavoury. 

Thofe  therefore,  that  have  been  zealous  for  this 
Work,  and  have  greatly  errM  and  been  injurious 
with  their  Zeal,  ought  not  to  be  treated  with  Bit- 
ternefs.  There  is  abundant  Reafon  to  think,  that 
.moft  of  them  are  the  dear  Children  of  God,  for 
whom  Ch  R  1ST  died  ;  and  therefore  that  they  will 
fee  their  Error.  As  to  thofe  Things,  wherein  we 
fee  them  to  be  in  an  Error,  we  have  Reafon  to 
fay  of  'em  as  the  Apoftle,  Philip.  3.  15.  If  any 
are  otherwife  minded,  God  Jhall  reveal  this  unto  them* 
Their  Errors  fliould  not  be  made  Ufe  of  by  us,  fo 
much  to  excite  Indignation  towards  them,  but^ 
(hould  influence  all  of  us,  that  hope  that  we  are 
the  Children  of  God,  to  humble  our  felves,  and 
become  more  entirely  dependent  on  the  Lord 
JesusChrist,  when  we  fee  thofe,  that  areGoD's 
own  People,  fo  leady  to  go  aftray.  And  thofe 
F  f  Mi- 


332  Of  waiting  en  GOD.        Pa.  V. 

Minifters  that  have  been  judged,  and  injurioufly 
dealt  with,  will  do  the  Part  of  Christ ^s  Difci- 
ples,  not  to  judge  and  revile  again,  but  to  receive 
fuchlnjuries  with  Meeknefs  and  Forbearance,and 
making  a  good  Improvement  of  them,  more  ftriftly 
examining  their  Hearts  &  Ways,  and  committing 
themfelves  to  God.  This  will  be  the  Way  t% 
liave  God  vindicate  them  in  his  Providence,  if 
they  belong  to  him.  We  han't  yet  feen  the  End 
ofThmgs;^nor  do  we  know  who  will  be  moft 
vindicated,  and  honoured  of  God,  in  the  IfTue. 
Ecclef  7.  8.  Beiter  is  the  End  of  a  Thing,  than  the 
Beginning  thereof-,  and  the  patient  in  Spirit^  is  bet- 
ter than  the  proud  in  Spirit. 

Contrary  to  this  mutual  Meeknefs,  is  "each  Par- 
ty's ftigmatizing  one  another  with  odious  Names ; 
as  is  done  in  many  Parts  of  New- England :  which 
tends  greatly  to  widen  and  perpetuate  the  Breach. 
Such  diftinguifhing  Names  of  Reproach,  do  as  it 
were  divide  us  into  two  Armies,  feparated,  and 
drawn  up  in  Battle-Array,  ready  to  fight  one  with 
another  ;  which  greatly  hinders  the  Work  of  God. 
And  as  fuch  an  extraordinary  Time  as  this,  does 
efpecially  require  of  us  the  Exercife  of  a  great  deal 
of  Forbearance,  one  towards  another  ;  fo  there  fs 
peculiarly  requifite  in  God's  People,  the  Exercife 
of  great  Patience,  in  waiting-^w  GOD,  under  any 
fpecial  Difficulties  and  Difadvantages  they  ijiay  be 
under,  as  to  the  Means  of  Grace.  The  beginning 
of  a  Revival  of  Religion  will  naturally  and  neceffa- 
rily  be  attended  with  a  great  many  Difficulties  of 
this  Nature  ;  many  Parts  of  the  reviving  Church 
willj  for  a  whi:le,  be  under  great  Difadvantages, 

—  -'.by 


Pa.  V.  Of  waiting  on  God.  333 

by  Reafon  of  what  remains  of  the  old  Difeafe,  of  a 
general  Corruption  of  the  vifible  Church.  We 
can't  expedl  that,  after  a  long  Time  of  Degene- 
racy and  Depravity,  in  the  State  of  Things  in  the 
Church, Things  fhould  all  come  to  Rights  at  once  ; 
it,.mufl:  be  a  Work  of  Time  :  And  for  God's  Peo- 
ple to  be  over-hafty  and  violent,  in  fuch  a  Cafe, 
being  refolved  to  have  every  Thing  re£tified  at 
once,  or  elfe  forcibly  to  deliver  themfelves,  by 
Breaches  and  Separations,  is  the  Way  to  hinder 
Things  coming  to  Rights,  as  they  otherwife  would, 
and  to  keep  'em  back,  and  the  Way  to  break  all 
in  Pieces.  Not  but  that  the  Cafe  may  be  fuch, 
the  Difficulty  may  be  fo  intolerable,  as  to  allow  of 
no  Delay,  and  Gob's  People  can't  continue  in 
the  State  wherein  they  were,  without  Violations 
ofabfolute  Commands  of  God.  But  otherwife, 
tho*  the  Difficulty  may  be  very  great,  another 
Courfe  fhould  be  taken.  God's  People  fhould 
have  their  Recourfe  direftly  to  the  Throne  of 
Grace,  to  reprefent  their  Difficulties  before  the 
great  Shepherd  of  the  Sheep,  that  has  the  Care  of 
all  the  Affairs  of  his  Church  ;  and  when  they  have 
done,  they  fhould  wait  patiently  upon  him  :  If  they 
do  fo,  they  may  expea  that  to  his  Time,  he  will' 
appear  for  their  Deliverance  :  But  if  inflead  of 
that,  they  are  impatient,  and  take  the  Work  into 
their  own  Hands,  they  will  bewray  their  Want  of 
Faith,  and  will  difhonour  God,  and  can't  have 
fuch  Reafon  to  hope  that  Christ  will  appear  for 
th  em,  as  they  have  defired,but  have  Reafon  to  fear, 
that  he  will  leave  'em  to  manage  their  Affairs  for 
themfelves,as  well  as  they  can  :  When  otherwife,if 
Ff2  they 


i 


354         Of  waiting  on  GOD.        Pa.  V. 

tiiey  had  waited  on  Christ  patiently,  continumg 
Itiil  inftant  in  Prayer,  they  might  have  had  him  an- 
pearing  for  them,  much  more  efFeaually  to  deliver 
them.  He  that  lelieveth  Jhall  not  make  ha  fie  \  and 
tisfor  thofe  that  are  found  patiently  waiting  on 
the  Lord,  under  DiiEculties,  that  he  will  efpecially 
appear  when  he  comes  to  do  great  Things  for  his 
Church,  as  IS  evident  by  7/^7.  30.  18.  and  Chap. 
40.  at  the  latter  End,  and  49.  23.  and  PfaL  37. 
9.  and  many  other  Places.  .  '    '        V 

I  have  fomewhere,  not  long  fince,  met  with  an 
Expofition  of  thofe  Words  of  the  Spoufe,  that  we 
feavefeveral  Times  repeated  in  the  Book  of  Cantt- 
des^  I  charge you^  O  Daughters  ^Jerufalem,  that 
yejiirnotup^  nor  awake  my  Lov^^  [titlhe phafe^ 
which  is  the  only  fatisfying  Expofition  that  ever  I 
Jhet  whh  ;  which  was  to  this  Purpofe,  Wz.  That 
when  the  Church  of  God  is  under  great  Difficult 
:ies,  and  in'Diftrefs,  and  Chbtst  don't  appear 
■or  her  Help,  butfeems'to  negle'61:  her,  as  tho*  he. 
^ere  afleep,  God's  People,  or  the  Daughters  of 
■erufalem^\n  fuch  a  Cafe,  (hould  not  (hew  an:hafty 
pirit ;  and  not  having  Patience  to  wait  for  Qirift 
[o  awake  for  their  Help,  ^till  his  Time  comes,take 
Indireft  Gourfes  for  their  own  Deliverance,  and 
life  violent  Means  for  their  Efcape,  before  Chrift 
^  appears  to  open  the  Door  for  them  ;  and  fo  as  it 
were,  jiir  upy  and  awake  Chriji^  before  his  Time. 
When  the  Church  is  in  Diftrefs,  and  God  feems 
not  to  appear  for  her  in  his  Providence,  he  is  very 
often  reprefented  in  Scripture,  as  being  afleep  ;  as 
Christ  was  afleep  in  the  Ship,  when  the  Difci- 
ples  were  toffed  by  the  Storm,"  &  the  Ship  covered 

with 


Pa.  V.         Of  waiting  on  GOD.  335 

v/ith  Waves:  And  God's  appearing  afterwards 
for  his  People's  Help,  is  reprcfented  as  his  awaking 
out  of  Sleep.     Pfal.  7.  6.  and  35.  23.  and  44.  - 
23.  and  59.  4.  and  73.  20.     Christ  has  an 
appointed  Time  for  his  thus  awaking  out  of  Sleep : 
And  his  People  ought  to  wait  upon  him ;  and  not, 
in  an  impatient  Fit,  ftir  him  up,  before  his  Time. 
'Tis  worthy  to  be  obferved  how  ftrift  this  Charge 
is,  given  to  the  Daughters  of  Jerufalem^  which  is 
repeated  three  Times  over  in  the  Book  of  Canti-^ 
cles^  Chap.  2.  7.  and  3.  5.  and  8.  4.     In  the  2d 
Chapter  and  fix  firft  Verfes,  is  reprefented  the 
Supports  Christ  gives  his  Church,  while  ftie  is 
in  a  fufFering  State,  as  the  Lilly  among  Thorns  :  In 
the  7  th  Verfe  is  reprefented  her  Patience  in  wait- 
ing for  Christ,  to  appear  for  her  Deliverance, 
when  (he  charges  the  Daughters  of  Jerufalem^  not 
to  ftir  up,  nor  awake  her  Love  ^till  he  pleafe,   by 
the  Roes,  and  the  Hinds  of  the  Field ;  which  are 
Creatures  of  a  gentle,  harmlefs  Nature,  are  not 
Beafts  of  Prey,  do  not  devour  one  another,  don't 
fight  with  their  Enemies,  but  fly  from  them  j  and 
are  of  a  pleafant,  loving  Nature,  Prov>  5.  19.  In 
the  next  Verfe,  we  fee  the  Church's  Succefs,  in 
this  Way  of  waiting  under  Sufferings,  with  Meek- 
nefs  &  Patience  ;  Christ  foon  awakes,  fpeedily 
appears,  and  fwiftly  comes  ;  The  Voice  of  my  Be- 
loved !  Behold^  he  cometh,  Uapiyug  upon  the  Mountains  y 
(kipping  upon  the  Hills  / 

What  has  been  mention 'd  hitherto,  has  Relation' 

to  the  Behaviour  we  are  obliged  to,  as  we  would 

prevent  the  Hindrances  of  the  Work  ;  butbefides 

thefe,  there  are  Things  that  muft  be  done,  more 

F  f  3  direaiy 


33^  Of  taking  Care  of  our  own  Souls.  P.V. 

diredlly  to  advance  it.  And  here,  it  concerns 
every  one,  in  the  firft  Place,  to  look  into  his  own 
Heart,  and  fee  to  it  that  he  be  a  Partaker  of  the 
Benefits  of  the  Work  himfelf,  and  that  it  be  pro- 
moted in  his  ovy^n  Soul.  Now  is  a  moft  glorioirs 
Opportunity  for  the  Good  of  Souls.  'Tis  mani- 
feftly,  with  refpeil  to  a  Time  of  great  Revival  of 
Religion  in  the  World,  that  we  have  that  graci- 
i  ous,  earneft  and  moving  Invitation  proclaimed,  in 
;^  the  55th  of  Ifai.  Ho^  every  one  that  thirjieth  !  &c. 
as  is  evident  by  what  preceeds  in  the  foregoing 
Chapter,  and  what  follows  in  the  Clofe  of  this. 
Here,  in  the  6th  Verfe  it  is  faid,  Seek  ye  the  Lord ^ 
while  he  may  be  found -^  call  upon  him^  while  he  is 
near.  And  ^tis  with  fpeeial  Reference  to  fuch  a 
Time,  that  Christ  proclaims  as  he  does,  Rev. 

21.  6.  I -will  give  tmto  him  that   is  aihirft^  of  the 
Fountain  of  the  Water  of  Life  freely.     And  Chap. 

22.  17,  And  the  Spirit  and  the  Bride  fay.  Come; 
and  let  him  that  h ear eth  fay  ^  Come  ;  and  let  him  that 
isathirji  come  ;  and  whofoever  will.,  let  him  take  the 
Water  of  Life  freely.  And  it  feems  to  be  with  Re- 
ference to  fuch  a  Time,  which  is  typified  by  the 
Feaji  of  Tabernacles^  that  Jesus,  at  that  Feaft, 
flood  and  cried,  as  we  have  an  Account,  Joh.  7. 
37,  38.  In  the  lajl  Day^  that  great  Day  of  the 
Feaji^  Jefus  flood  and  cried^  faying.,  If  any  Man 
thirji^  let  him  come  unto  me  and  drink.     He  that  be- 
lieveth  on  me.,  out  of  his  Belly  /hall  flow  Rivers  of 
living.  Water, ,.  And  '.tis  with  fpeeial  Reference  to 
God's  Freenefs  arid  Readinefstobeftow  Grace^t 
fuch  a  Time,  that  it  isfeid  \vi  Ifa.  60. 11.  of  the 

fpiritual 


Pa.V.     To  Oppolers  and  Arminians.     g ^7 

fpiritual  JerufaUm^  Thy  Gates  Jhall  he  open  conti- 
nually^  they  Jhall  not  he  Jhut^  Day  nor  Night, 

And  tho'  I  judge  not  thofe  that  have  oppofed 
this  Work,  and  would  not  have  others  jixlge  them, 
yet,  if  any  fuch'ihall  happen  to  read  this  Treatife, 
I  would  take  the  Liberty  to  intreat  them  to  leave 
ofF  concerning  themfelves  fo  much  about  others, 
and  look  into  their  own  Souls,  and  fee  to  it  that 
they  are  the  Subjeds  of  a  true,  faving  Work  of 
the  Spirit  of  God.  If  they  have  Reafon  to  think 
thev  never  have  beerf,  or  it  be  but  a  Very  doubtful 
Hopethat  they  have,  then  how  can  they  have  any 
Heart  to  be  bufilv  arnl  fiercely  engaged  about  the 
Miftakes,  and  the  fuppofed  falfe  Hopes  of  others  ? 
And  I  would  now  bcfeech  thofe  that  have  hitherto 
been  fomething  inclining  x.o  Arminian  Principles, 
ferioufly  to  weigh  the  Matter  with  Refpecl 
to  this  Work,  and  confider,  whether,  \^  the 
Scriptures  are  the  Word  of  God,  the  Work 
that  has  been  defc^ribed  in  the  firff  Part  of  ^thia 
Treatife,  muft  not  i7eed&  te,  as  to  the  Subftance 
of  it,  the  Work  of  God,  and  the  Ftouriftiii^g  of* 
that  Religion,  that  is  taught  by  Christ  and  his 
Apoftles  ;  and  whether  any  good  Medium  can  be 
found,  where  a  Man  can  reft,  with  any  Stability, 
between  owning  this  Work,  and  being  a  Deift  ; 
and  alfo  to  confider  whether  or  no,  if  it  be  indeed 
fo,  that  this  be  the  Work  of  God,  it  don*t  entire- 
ly overthrow  their  Scheme  of  Religion  ;  and  there^ 
fore  whether  it  don't  infinitely  concern  'enij  as 
they  would  be  Partakers  of  eternal  Salvation,  to 
relinquifh  their  Scheme*  Now  is  a  good  Time  for 
Arminians-  to  change  tbcir  PxiacipleSr.   I  would 


3  3  §     Banger  of  negkBing  this  Seafon,    P. V. 

now,  as  one  of  the  Friends  of  this  Work,  humbly 
invite  'em  to  come  and  join  with  us,  and  be  on 
our  Side  ;  and  if  I  had  the  Authority  of  Mofes^  I 
would  fay  to  them  as  he  did  to  Hobab^  Num.  lo. 
29.  TVe  are  journey  mg  unto  the  Place^  of  which  the 
Lord  f aid ^  1  will  give  it  you  \  come  thou  with  us  ; 
and  we  will  do  ihee  Good :  For  the  Lord  hath  fpoken 
Good  cGncerni?2g  Ifrael. 

As  the  Benefit  and  Advantage  of  the  good  Im- 
provement of  fuch  a  Seafon,  is  extraordinary  great ; 
fo  the  Danger  of  neglecting,  and  mifimproving  it, 
k  proportionably  great.      'Tis  abundantly  evident 
by  the  Scripture,  that  as  a  Time  of  great  Out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit,  is  a  Time  of  great  Favour 
\   to  thpfe  that  are  Partakers  of  the  Bleffing  ;  fo   it 
f   is  always  a  Time  of  remarkable  Vengeance  to 
others.     So  in  Ifai.  61.2.  the  fame  that  is  called, 
the  acceptable  Tear  of  the  Lord^  is  called  alfo,  the 
Day  of  Vengeance  of  our  God.     So  it  was  amongft 
the  Jews,  in  the  Apoftles  Days  :  The  Apoftle  in 
a  Cor.  6.  2.  fays  of  thit  Time,   that  it  was  the 
a€cepte4Thne.,and  Day  of  Salvation  },  And  Chrift 
iays  of  the  fame  Time,  Luk.  21.  22.  Thefe  are 
the  Days  of  Vengeance.  At  the  fame  Time  that  the 
BlefTings  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  were  given  to 
X\    fome,  there  was  an  Ax  laid  at  the  Root  of  the  Trees  ^ 
U    that  thofe  that  did  not  hear  Fruity   might  be  hewn 
(■J    down^  and  caji  into  the  Fire^  Matth.  3.  9,  lb,  II. 
Then  was  glorified,  both  the  Goodnefs  &  Severity 
of  God,  in  a  remarkable  Manner.  Rom.  11.  22. 
The  Harveft  and  the  Vintage  go  together :  At  the 
fame  Time  that  the  Earth  is  reaped,  and  God's 
Ek£l  are  gathered  into  the  Garner  pf  God,  /*^ 

Angel 


Pa.  V.  To  tiged  Perfons.  339 

jlngel  that  has  Power  over  Fire^  thrufts  in  his  Sickle^ 
and  gathers  the  Clujler  of  the  Vine  of  the  Earthy  and 
cafs  it  into  the  great  JVir^-Prefs  of  the  Wrath  of 
God,  Rev,  14.  at  the  latter  End.  So  it'is  foretold, 
that  at  the  Beginning  ofthe  glorious  Times  of  the 
Chriftian  Church,  at  the  fame  Time  x\\^Uhe  Hand 
ofthe  Lord  is  kmzvriy  towards  his  Servants^  fo  {hall 
his  Indignation^  tcivards  his  Enemies,  Ifa.  66.  14. 
Si'when  thatgloriousMorningfluU  appear jwhere- 
Vxi  the  ^un  of^Righteoufnefs^JhaU arife,  to  the  Ele6f^ 
with  Healing  in  his  Wings,  the  Day  {hall  burn  as  an 
Oven  to  the  Wicked,  Mai.  4.  1,2,  3.  There  is 
no  Time  like  fuch  a  Time,  for  the  Increafe  of 
Guilt,  and  treafaring  up  Wrath,  and  defperate 
hardening  of  the  Heart,if  Menftand  it  out ;  which 
is  the  moft  awful  Judgment,  and  Fruit  of  divine 
Wrath,  that  cjn  beinflided  on  any  Mortal.  So 
th^t  a  Time  of  great  Grace,  and  pouring  out  of 
the  Spirit,  and  the  Fruits  of  divine  Mercy,  is  ever- 
more alfo,  a  Time  of  great  Out-pouring  of  fome- 
thing  elfe,  t^/z.  Divine  Vengeance,  on  thofe  that 
negleft  and  mifiniprove  fuch  a  Seafon. 

The  State,  ofthe  prefent  Revival  of  Religion^ 
has  an  awful  Afpeft  upon  thofe  that  are  advanced 
ih  Years.  *  The  Work  has  b.een  chiefly  amongft 
thofe  that  are  young  ;  and  comparatively^,  but 
few  others  have  been  made  Pa^^^'iers  of  it.  And 
indeed,  it  has  commonly  been  fo,  when  God  has 
begu^  a^ny  "great  Work,  for  the  Revival  of  his 
Church,;  .-he  has  taken  the  young  People,  and  has 
caft'ofFthe  old  h  iTifF-necked  Generation.  There 
was  a  remarkable  Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  of 
God,  on  the  Children  of  Ifraelm  the  Wildeinefs, 


on 


340  ^0  aged  Perfens.  Pa.  V.  ^ 

on  the  younger  Generation,  their  little  ones^  that 
they  faid^Jhould  be  a  Prey^  the  Generation  that  en- 
tred  into  Canaan^  with  yojhua  3  which  is  evident^ 
by  many  Things  in  Scriptnre.     That  Generation, 
feems  to  have4>een  the  mofl  excellent  Generation 
that  ever  was  in  the  Church  of  IfraeL     There  is 
no  Generation,  of  which  there  is  fo  much  Good, 
and  fo  little  Hurt  fpoken  in  Scriptupe  ;  as  might 
befhewn,  if  it  would  not  be  too  long.     In  that 
Generation,  that  were  under  twenty  Years,  when 
they  went  out  of  Egypt ^  was  th^t  Kindnefs  of 
Youth ^  and  Love  of  Efpoufah^  fpoken  of,   Jer.  2. 
2,  3.     But  the  old  Generation  were  pafled  by, 
and  remained  ofcftinate  and  ftifF-necked,  were  al- 
ways murmuring,  and  would  not  be  convinced 
by  all  God's  wondrous  Works  that  they  beheld. 
God  by  his  awful  Judgments  that  he  executed  in^ 
the  Wi'ldernefs,  and  the  Affliction  that  the  People' 
fufFered  there,  convinced  and  humbled  the  younger 
Generation,  and  fitted  them  for  great  Mercy  \  as 
is  evident  by  Deut,  2.  16.  but  he  deftroyed  the 
old  Generation  ;  he  fivore  in  his  Wraih^  that  they 
Jhouldnot  enter  into' his  Reji^  and  their  Car  cafes  fell 
in  the  VAldernefs  :  When  it  was  a  Time  of  great' 
Mercy,   and  pourinj  out  of  God's  Spirit  on  their 
Children,  it  was  r'^^arkably  a  Day  of  Vengeance 
unto  them  ;  as  ap[?2ars  by  the  90  Pfalm.   ^  Let  the 
old  Generation 4n  this  Land,  take  Warning  from 
hence,  and  take  Heed  that  they  don't  refufe  to  be 
convinced,  by  all  God's  Wonders  that  he  works 
before  their  Eyes,    and  that  they  don't  continue 
forever  objecling,  murmuring  &  cavailling  againft 
the  Work  of  God,  leaft  while  God  is  bringing 

their 


Pa.  V.  ^0  aged  Perfofts.  341 

their  Children  into  a  Land  flowing  with  Milk  and 
Honey,  he  (hould  fvvear  in  his  Wrath  concerning 
them,  that  their  Carcafes  fhall  fall  in  the  Wilder- 
nefs. 

So  when  God  had  a  Defign  of  great  Mercy  to 
the  Jews^  in  bringing  'em  out  of  the  Bahylonijh  \ 
Captivity,  and  returning  them  to  their  own  Land, 
there  was  a  blefled  Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  upon 
them  in  Babylon^  to  bring  'em  to  deep  Conviction 
and  Repentance,  and  to  a  Spirit  of  Prayer,  to  cry 
earneftly  to  God  for  Mercy  ;  which  is  often  fpo- 
ken  of  by  the  Prophets  :  But  it  was  not  upon  the 
old  Generation,  that  were  carried  Captive.  The 
Captivity  continued  juft  long  enough,  for  that  per- 
verfe  Generation  to  wafte  away  and  die  in  their 
Captivity;  at  leaft  thofe  of  them  that  w^ere  adult  i 
Perfons,  when  carried  Captive.  The  old  Gene-  I 
ration,  and  Heads  of  Families,  were  .exceeding 
obftinate,  and  would  not  hearken  to  the  earneft 
repeated  Warnings  of  the  Prophet  Jereyniab  ;  but 
he  had  greater  Succefs  among  the  young  People  ; 
as  appears  by  Jer.  6.  10,  1 1 .  Ti  whom/hall  I /peak 
a-ndgive  JVarning^  that  they  may  hear?  Behold  their  \ 
Ear  is  uncircumc'ifed^  and  they  cannot  hearken  :  Be-  1 
hcld^  the  Word  of  the  Lord  is  unto  them  a  Reproach  ; 
they  have  no  Delight  in  it,  Tljerefore  I  am  full  of 
the  Fury  of  the  Lord ;  /  am  iveary  with  holding  in  \ 
Izvillpour  it  out  upon  the  Children  abroad^  and  upon 
the  Affembly  of  the  young  Men  together  ;  for  even  the 
Hujbandzuith  the  Wife  (i.  e.  The  Heads  of  Fami- 
.  lies,  and  Parents  of  thefe  Children)  Jhall  be  taken^ 
the  aged,,  zvith  him  that  is  full  of  Days.  BlefTed  be 
God  !  There  are  fome  of  the  elder  People,  that 

have 


3+2  Duties  of  Minijiers.  P a  .  V. 

have  been  made  Partakers  of  this  Work  :  And 
tliofe  tkat  aremoft  awakened,  by  thefe  Warnings 
of  God's  Word,  and  the  awful  Frowns  of  his 
Providence,  will  be  moft  hkely  to  be.  made  Par- 
takers hereafter.  It  infinitely  concerns  them  to 
take  Heed  to  themfelves,  that  they  may  be  Parta- 
kers of  it;  for  how  dreadful  will  it  be  to  go  to 
Hell,  after  having  fpent  fo  many  Years  in  doing 
nothing,  but  treafure  up  Wrath. 

But  above  all  others  whatfoever,  does  it  concern 
us  that  are  Minifters,  to  fee  to  it  that  we  are  Par- 
takers of  this  Work,  or  that  we  have  Experience 
of  tlie  fa ving  Operations  of  the  fame  Spirit,  that 
is  now  poured  out  on  the  Land.  How  forrowful 
and  melancholy  is  the  Cafe,  when  it  is  otherwife  ? 
For  one  to  ftand  at  the  Head  of  a  Congregation 
of  God's  People,  as  reprefenting  Christ  and 
fpeaking  in  his  Stead,  and  to  adt  the  Part  of  a  Shep- 
herd and  Guide  to  a  People,  in  fuch  a  State  of 
Things,  when  many  are  under  great  Awakenings, 
and  many  are  converted,  &  many  of  God's  Saints 
are  filled  with  divine  Light,  Love  and  Joy,  and  to 
undertake  to  inftruft  and  lead  'em  all,  under  all 
thefe  various  Circumfl:ances,  and  to  be  put  to  it, 
continually  to  play  the  Hypocrite,  and  force  the 
Airs  of  a  Saint  in  Preaching,  and  from  Time  to 
Time,  in  private  Converfation,  &  particular  deal- 
ing  with  Souls,  to  undertake  to  judge  of  their  Cir- 
cumftances,  to  try  to  talk  with  thofe  that  come  to 
him,  as  if  he  k-new  what  they  faid  ;  to  try  to  talk 
with  Perfons  of  Experience,  as  if  he  knew  how  to 
converfe  with  them,  and  had  Experience  as  well 
as  they  j  to  make  others  believe  that  he  rejoices 

when 


,  A.  V.  Duues  of  Minijlers.  343 

when  others  are  converted,  and  to  force  a  pleafed 
and  joyful  Countenance  and  Manner  of  Speech, 
whe'n  there  is  nothing  in  the  Heart,  what  forrow- 
ful  ^Vork  is  here  !   Oh  !   how  miferably  mull  fuch 
a  Perfon  feel  !    What  a  wretched   Bondage  and 
Slavery  is  this  !    What  Pains,  and  how  much  Art 
muft  fuch  a  Minifter  ufe  to  conceal  himfelf !  And 
how  weak  are  his  Hands  !  Befides  the  infinite  Pro- 
vocation of  the  moft  high  God,  and  Difpleafure  of 
his  Lord  &  Mafter,  that  he  incurs,  by  continuing 
a  fecret  Enemy  to  him  in  his  Heart,  in  fuch  Cir- 
cumftances.     I  think  there  is  a  great  deal  of  Rea- 
fon,  from  the  Scripture,  to  conclude,  that  no  Sort 
of  Men  in  the  World,  will  be  fo  low  in  Hell,  as  < 
ungodly  Minifters  :  Every  thing  that  is  fpokenof 
in  Scripture,  as  that  which  aggravates  Guilt,  and 
heightens  divine  Wrath,  meets  in  them  ;  however 
fome  particular  Perfons,  of  other  Sorts,  may  be 
more  guilty  than  fome  of  thefe. 

And  what  great  Difadvantages  are  unconverted 
Minifters  under,  to  oppofe  any  Irregularities,  or 
Imprudences,  or  intemperate  Zeal,  that  they  may 
fee  in  thofe  that  are  the  Children  of  God,  when 
they  are  confcious  to  theiiifelves,  that  they  have  no 
Zeal  at  all  ?  If  Enthufiafm  and  Wildnefs  comes 
in  like  a  Flood,  what  poor  weak  Inftruments  are 
fuch  Minifters  to  withftand  it  ?  With  what  Cou-  ; 
rage  can  they  open  their  Mouths,  when  they  look  ^ 
inward,  and  confider  how  it  is  with  them  ? 

We  that^are  Minifters,  not  only  have  Need  of 

fome  true  Experience  of  the  faving  Influence  of    | 

the  Spirit  of  God  upon  our  Heart,  but  we  need  a     J 

double  Portion  of  the  Spirit  of  Goj>  at  fuch  a     " 

G  g  Time 


344  Duties  of  Minijlers.         Pa.  V. 

Time  as  this  ;  we  had  need  to  be  as  full  of  Light, 
as  a  Glafs  is,  that  is  held  out  in  the  Sun ;  and  with 
Refpea  to  Love  and  Zeal,  we  had  need  at  this 
L)ay,  to  be  hke  the  Angels,  that  arc  a  Flame  of 
Fire.  The  State  of  the  Times  extremely  requires 
a  Fulnefs  of  the  divine  Spirit  in  Minifters,  and  we 
ought  to  give  our  felves  no  Reft  'till  we  have  ob- 
tain'd  it.  And  in  order  to  this,  I  fliould  think 
Minifters,'above  all  Perfons,  ought  to  be  much  in 
fecret  Prayer  and  Fafting,  and  alfo  much  in  Pray- 
ing and  Fafting  one  with  another.  It  feems  to  me 
it  would  be  becoming  the  Circumftances  of  the 
prefent  Day,  if  Minifters  in  a  Neighbourhood 
would  often  meet  together,  and  fpend  Davs  in 
Fafthig,  and  fervent  Prayer,  among  themfelves, 
earneftly  feeking  for  thofe  extraordinary  Supplies 
of  divine  Grace  from  Heaven,  that  we  need  at 
tliis  Day  :  And  alfo  if,  on  their  occafional  Vifits 
one  to  another, inftead  of  fpendingaway  theirTime 
in  fitting  &  fmoking,  and  in  diverting,or  worldly, 
unprofitable  Converfation,tellingNews,&  makin'g 
their  Remarks  on  this  &  the  other  trifling  Subject, 
tlicy  would  fpend  their  Time  in  praying  togethc, 
and  fmging  Praifes,  h  religious  Conference.  Hov, 
much  do  many  of  the  common  People  ftiame  many 
of  us  that  are  in  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry,  in 
tiicfe  Refpecls  r  Surely  we  do  not  behave  our 
felves  fo  much  like  Chriftian  Minifters,  &  the  Dif- 
ciples  and  Ambafladors  of  Chrift,  as  we  ought  to 
<io.  And  while  we  condemn  zealous  Perfons  for 
their  doing  fo  much  at  cenfuring  Minifters  at  this 
Day,  it  ought  not  to  be  without  deep  Reflexions 
upon,  &  great  Condemnation  of  our  felves:  For 

indeed, 


Pa.V.  Of  Minijlers  helping  one  another .  345 

indeed,  we  do  very  much  to  provoke  Cenforiouf- 
nefs,  and  lay  a  great  Temptation  before  others,  to 
the  Sinof  Judging  :  And  if  w^ecanprove^thatthofe 
that  are  guiltv  of  it,  do  tranfgrefs  the  Scripture 
Rule,  yet  our  Indignation  fliould  be  chiefly  againft 
our  felves. 

Minifters,  at  this  Day  in  a  fpecial  Manner, 
fhould  a£l  as  Fellow-helpers,  in  their  great  Work. 
It  Ihould  be  feen  that  they  are  animated  &engag'd, 
and  exert  themfelves  with  one  Heart  &  Soul^  and 
with  united  Strength,  to  promote  the  prefent  glo- 
riousReviv^l  of  Religion  :  And  to  that  End  fhould 
often  meet  together,  &  adl  in  Concert.  And  if  it 
were  a  common  Thing  in  the  Country,  for  A'lini- 
fters  to  join  in  publick  Excrcifes,  and  fecond  one 
another,  in  their  Preaching,  I  believe  it  would  be 
of  great  Service.  I  mean  that  Minifters  having 
confulted  one  another,  as  to  the  Subjefts  of  their 
Difcourfes,  before  they  go  to  the  Houfe  of  God, 
fliould  there  fpeak,  two  or  three  of  them  going,  in 
fhort  Difcourfes,  as  feconding  each  other,and  ear- 
neftly  enforcing  each  other's  Warnings&Counfels. 
Only  fuch  an  Appearance  of  united  Zeal  in  Mini- 
fte;  s,  would  have  a  greatTendency  to  awaken  At. 
tention,  &  much  to  iraprefs  &  animate  the  Hear- 
ers-; as  has  been  found  by  Experience,  in  fome 
Parts  of  the  Country. 

Minifters  fhould  carefully  avoid  weakening  one 
another's  Hands.  And  therefore  every  Thing 
fliould  be  avoided,  by  which  their  Interefl  with 
their  People  might  be  diminifhed,  or  their  Union 
with  them  broken.  On  the  contrary,  if  Miniflers 
han't  forfeited  their  Acceptance  in  that  Charader, 
G  g  2  in 


346'         0/  Zeal  and  Refolution         P a .  V. 

in  the  vifible  Church,  by  their  Dodrine  or  Beha- 
viour, their  Brethren  in  the  Miniftry  ought  ftudi- 
oufly  to  endeavour  to  heighten  the  Efteem  and  Af- 
feftion  of  their  People  towards  them,  that  the) 
may  have  no  Temptation  to  repent  their  admittiiig 
other  Minifters  to  come  &  preach  in  their  Pulpit^. 
Two  Things,  that  are  exceeding  needful  in  Mi- 
niflers,  as  they  would  do  any  great  Matters,  to  ad- 
vance the  Kingdom  of  Chri'ft,  are  Zeal  ic  Refclu- 
tion*  The  Influence  and  Power  of  thefe  Things, 
to  bring  to  pafs  great  EfFedls,  is  greater  than  can 
well  be  imagined ;  A  Man  of  but  an  ordinary  Ca- 
pacity, will  do  more  with  them,  than  one  of  t^n 
Times  the  Parts  &  Learning,withoutthem :  More 
may  he  dpne  with  them,  in  a  few  Days,  or  at  leait 
Weeks,  than  caa  bfe  done  without  them,  in  many 
Years.  Thofe  that  are  poflelTed  of  thefeQualities, 
commonly  carry  the  Day,  in  almoft  all  AfFaijs. 
Moft  of  the  great  Things  that  have  been  done  in 
the  World  of  Mankind,  the  great  Revolutions  thr.t 
have  been  accomplifhed  in  the  Kingdoms  and  Em- 
pires of  the  Earth,  have  been  chiefly  owing  to  thefe 
Things.  The  very  Sight  or  Appearance  of  a  tho- 
roughly engaged  Spirit,together  with  a  fearlefsCou- 
lage  &  unyielding  Refolution,  in  any  Perfon,  that 
has  undertaken  the  managing  any  Affair  amongft 
Mankind,  goes  a  great  Way  towards  accomplifh- 
ing  the  Effea  aimed  at.  'Tis  evident  that  the  Ap- 
pearance of  thefe  Things  in  Alexander^  did  thiee 
Times  as  much  towards  his  conquering  the  World , 
as  all  the  Blows  that  he  ftruck.  And  how  much 
were  the  great  Things  that  Olher  Cromwel  did, 
owing  to  thefe  Things  ?     And  the  great  Things 


I 


Pa.  V.  in  Minijters.  347 

that  Mr.  JVhitefield  has  done,  every  where,  as  he 
has  run  through  the  Britijh  Dominions,  (fo  far  as 
they  are  owing  to  Means)  are  very  much  owing  to 
the  Appearance  of  thefe  Things,  which  he  is  emi- 
nently pofTefs'd  of.     When  the  People  fee  thefe 
Things  apparently  in  a  Perfon,  and  to  a  great  De- 
gree, it  awes  them,  &  has  a  commanding  Influence 
upon  theirMinds  ;  it  feems  to  them  that. they  muft 
yield  i  they  naturally  fall,  before  them,  without 
ftanding  to  conteft  or  difpute  the  Matter  ;  they  arc 
conquered  as  it  were  by  Surprize.     But  while  v/ 
are  colJ&hcartlefs,  &only  go  on  in  a  dull  Manner, 
in  an  old  formal  Round,  we  fliall  never  do  anv 
great  Matterr.  Our  Attempts,  the  Appearance  c 
fuch  Coldnefs  and  Irrefolution,  won't  fo  much  as 
make  Perfons  think  of  yielding  :  They  will  hardly 
be  fuiRcient  to  put  it  into  their  Minds  ;  and  if  it 
be  put  into  their  Minds,  the  Appearance  of  juch 
Indifference  and  Cowardice,  does  as  it  were  ca! 
for,  &  provoke  Oppofition.-— Our  Mifery  isWai. 
of  Zeal  and  Courage;  for  not  only  thro'   War. 
of  them,  does  ail  fail  that  weieem  to  attempt,  but 
it  prevents  our  attempting  any  Tiling  very  re-- 
markable,  for  the  Kingdom  of  Christ.  Hence^ 
oftentimes  it  has  been,  that  when  any  Thins;  v^i"^' 
ccnfiderable,  that  is  new,  \%  propofed  to  be  done 
for  the  Advancement  of  Religioii,  or  tte  publick 
Good,  many  Difficulties  are  found  out,  that  are.in 
the  Way, and  a  great  many  Objeflions  areilarted, 
and  it  may  be,  it  is  put  off  from  one  to  another  , 
but  no  Body  does  any  Thing.  And  after  this  Man- 
ner good  Defigns  or  Propofals  have  oftentimes 
failed,  &  have  funk  as  foon  as  piopofed.  ^Whenas, 
■^  Gg  3  if 


^  34.8     Of  Candidates  for  the  Miniflry.     P.  V . 

if  we  had  but  Mr.  Whitefield's  Zealand  Courage, 
what  could  not  we  do,  with  fuch  a  Bleffing  as  we 
might  expeiSl  ? 

Zeal  and  Courage  will  do  much  in  Perfons  of 
feut  an  ordinary  Capacity  ;  but  efpecially  would 
they  do  great  Things,  if  join'd  with  great 
Abilities.  If  fome  great  Men,  that  have  appear'd 
m  oiir  Nation,  had  been  as  eminent  in  Divinity, 
as  they  were  in  Philofophy,  and  had  engaged  in  the 
Chriftlan  Caufe,  with  as  much  Zealand  Fervour, 
as  fome  others  have  done,  &  with  a  proportionable 
Bleffing  of  Heaven,  they  would  have  conquered 
all  Chrljlmdam^  &  turn'd  the  World  upfide  down. 
We  have  many  Miniflers  in  the  Land  that  don't 
want  for  Abilities,  they  are  Perfons  of  bright  Part: 
and  Learning  \  they  fhould  confider  how  much  is 
expeftcd,  and  will  be  required  of  them,  by  their 
Lord  &  Mailer,  and  how  much  they  miglit  do  for 
Chrift,  and  what  great  Honour,  and  how  glorious 
a  Reward  tliey  might  receive,  if  they  had  in  their 
Hearts  an  heavenly  Warmth,  and  divine  Heat, 
proportionable  to  their  Light. 

WiihRefpea  to  Candidates  for  the  Miniftry,  1 
won't  undertake  particularly-  to  determine,  what 
^   Kind  of  Examinatiton  or  Trial  they  fhou! c 
\   der,  in  order  to  their  Admiffion  to  th^i 
!    Work:  But  i  think  this  is  evident  from  the:^ 
\   ture,  that  another  Sort  of  Trial,  withRegarat. 
their  Vertue  &  Piety,  is  requifite,  than  is  requnea 
in  order  to  Perfons  being  admitted  into  the  viiible 
,   Church-     TheApoftledireas, /^r/f^//^^^/^^ 
.   (uddmlyonmMan\  but  that  they  ftiould//:^  /-• 
m^  b^fgiQ  tbey  are  admitted  to  the  Work  c^^^;^ 


P-.  V.    Of  the  Regulation  of  the  Colleges.    3  4*;; 

Miniftrv  :  But  'tis  evident  that  Perfons  were  fud- 
denly  admitted, brBaptifm, into  the  vifibleChurch^ 
from  Time  to  Time,  on  their  Profeflion  of  their 
Faith  in  Chrift,  without  fuch  Caution  &  Stri<Stnefs 
in  their  Probation*  And  it  feems  \o  me,  thofe 
would  a6l  very  unadvifedly,  that  fhould  enter  oil 
that  great  and  facred  Work,  before  the}^had  com- 
fortable Satisfadlion  concerning  themfelves,  that 
they  have  had  a  favingWork  of  God  on  theirSouls, 
And  tho'  it  may  be  thought,  that  I  go  out  of  my 
proper  Sphere,  to  intermeddle  in  the  AflFairs  of  the 
Colleges,  yet  I  will  take  the  Liberty  of  an  Englifh- 
man,(that  fpeaks  hi^  Mind  freelv,  concerning  pub- 
lick  Aftairs)  h  the  Liberty  of  a  Minifter  of  Chrift, 
{\v\\o  doubtlefs  may  fpeak  his  Miiid  as  freely  about 
Things  that  concern  the  Kingdom  of  his  Lord  and 
Mafter)  to  give  my  Opinion,  in  fomeThings,with 
Refpedl  to  thofe  Societies  ;  the  originial  and  main  \ 
Defign  of  which  is  to  train  up  Perfons,  &  fit  them  \ 
for  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry.  And  I  would  fay  ^ 
in  general,  that  it  appears  to  me  that  Care  fliould 
be  taken,  fome  Way  or  other,  that  thofe  Societies 
fhould  be  fo  regulated,  that  they  fhould,  in  Fa6l^ 
be  Nurferies  of  Piety.  Otherwife,  they  are  fun- 
damentally ruin'd  &  undone,  as  to  their  main  De-, 
fign,  and  maft  efiential  End.  They  ought  to  be  fo 
conftitutcd,  that  Vice  and  Idlcnefs  fhottld  have  no 
Living  there  :  They  are  intolerable  in  Societies^ 
whofe  main  Defign  h^  to  train  up  Youth  in  Chri- 
ftian  Knowledge  &  eminent  Piety,  to  fit  them  to 
be  I^ftors  of  the  Flock  of  the  bleffedjefus.  I  have 
heretofore  had  fome  Acquaintance  with  theAfFaira 
of  a  College^  and  Experience  of  what  tdongcd  to 

it3 


350  Of  the  Regiihtion  Pa.  V. 

its  Tuition  &  Government  \  and  I  can't  but  think 
that  it  is  practicable  enough,  fo  to  conflitute  fuch 
Societies, that  there  ihould  be  no  being  there,  with- 
out being  vertuous,  ferious  and  diligent.  It  feems 
to  me  to  be  a  Reproach  to  the  Land,  that  ever  it 
fhould  be  fo  with  our  Colleges,  that  inftead  of  be- 
ing Places  of  thegreateft  Advantages  for  truePiety, 
one  can't  fend  a  Child  thither,  without  great  Dan- 
ger of  his  being  infeded,  as  to  his  R'lorals  ;  as  it 
has  certainly,  fometimes  been  with  thefe  Societies  : 
*Tis  perfedly  intolerable  ;  and  any  Thing  {hould 
be  done,  rather  than  it  fhould  be  (o.  If  we  pre- 
tend to  liave  any  Colleges  at  all,  under^nyNotion 
of  training  up  Youth  for  the  Mi niftry, there  fliould 
be  fome  Way  found  out,  that  fhould  certainly  pre- 
vent its  being  thus.  To  have  Societies  for  bring- 
ing Perfons  up  to  be  Ambafladors  of  Jefus  Chrift, 
and  to  lead  Souls  to  Heaven,  &  to  have  'em  Places 
of  fo  much  Infeftion,  is  the  greatefl  Nonfenfe  and 
Ahfurdity  imaginable. 

And,  as  thorough  and  effecSlual  Care  fhould  be 
taken  that  Vice  &  Idlenefs  b en 't  tolerated  in  thefe 
Societies,  fo  certainly,  the  Defign  of  'em  requires, 
that  extraordinary  Means  fhould  be  ufed  in  them, 
for  training  up  the  Students  in  vital  Religion,  and 
experimental  &  praftical  Godlinefs  ;  fo  that  they 
fhould  be  holy  Societies,  the  very  Place  fhould  be 
as  it  were  facred  :  They  fhould  be,  in.  the  midflof 
the  Land,  Fountains  of  Piety  and  Holinels.  There 
is  a  great  deal  of  Pains  taken,  to  teach  the  Scho- 
lars human  Learning  \  there  ought  to  be  a^tnuch, 
and  moreCare, thoroughly  to  educate  'eminReligi- 
gn,&  lead  'em  to  Uue  &  eminent  Holinefs.  If  the 

main 


Pa.  V.  of  the  Colleges,  351 

main  Defign  of  thefeNuiferics,  is  to  bring  up  Pcr- 
fons  to  teachCHRisT,  then  it  is  ofgreatefl  Impor- 
tance that  there  fhould  be  Care  and  Pains  taken,  to 
bring  thofe  that  are  tliere  educated,  to  the  Know- 
ledge of  Chrift.  It  has  been  common,  in  our  pub- 
lick  Prayers,  to  call  thefe  Societies,  the  Schools  of 
the  Prophets  j  and  if  they  are  Schools,  to  train  up 
young  Men  to  be  Prophets y  certainly  there  ought 
to  be  extraordinary  Caie  there  taken,  to  train 'em 
up  to  be  ChrljViajis, 

And  I  can't  fee,  why  it  is  not  on  all  Accounts 
fit  &  convenient,  for  theGoverncurs  &  Inftruclois 
of  the  Colleges,  particularly,  fmgly  and  frequently 
to  converfe  with  the  Students,  about  the  State  of 
their  Souls.  As.  is  ths  Pradfice  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
D(^dridge^  one  of  the  moft  noted  of  the  prefeht 
diirenting  Minifters  in  England^  who  keeps  aii  Ac- 
cademy  at  Northampton^  as  he  himfelf  informs  the 
Rev.  Mr.  IVadfworth  of  Hartford^  in  Comie^icut^ 
in  a  Letter,  dated  at  Northampton^  March  6. 
1740,41.  The  Original  of  which  Letter  I  have 
fecn,  and  have  by  me  an  ExtfacSl  of  it,  fent  to  me, 
by  Mr.  IVadjvjorth  ;  which  is  as  follows  ; 

"  Thro'  the  divine  Goodiiefs,!  have  every  Year, 
^'  the  Pleafure  to  fee  fome  Plants  taken  out  of  my 
*'  Nurfery,  h  fet  in  neighbouringCongregations  ; 
"•  where  they  generally  fettle  with  a  unanimous 
"  Cenfent,  and  that  to  a  very  remarkableDegree, 
'^  in  fomeverylarge,  and  once  divided  Congrega- 
"'  tiows.  .  A  Circiimfbncc,  in  which,  I  own  and 
''  adore  the  Hand  of  a  wife  &  gracious  God  ;  and 
''  can't  but  look  upon  it  as  a  Token  for  Good.  I 
''  have  at  prefent,  a  greater  Proportion  of  pious 

''  and 


2         Duties  of  great  Men.  Pa.  V. 

and  ingenious  Youth  under  my  Care,  than  I 
ever  before  had.  So  that  I  hope  the  Church 
may  rr^ifonably  expect  fome  coniiderableRelief 
from  hence,  if  God  fpare  their  Lives  a  few 
Years,  &  continue  to  them  thofe  gracious  Af- 
fiftances,  which  he  has  hitherto^mercifully  im- 
parted.— I  willnofjSir,  trouble  you  at  prefent, 
with  a  large  Account  of  my  Method  of  acca- 
demical  Education  :  Only  would  obferve,  that 
I  think  it  of  vail  Importance,  to  inftruft  them 
carefully  in  the  Scriptures  ;  h  not  only  endea- 
vour to  cftablifh  them  in  the  great  Truths  of 
Chriftianity,  but  to  labour  to  promote  their 
praftlcal  Influence  on  their  Hearts.  For  which 
Purpofe,!  frequently  converfe  with  each  of  them 
alone, &  conclude  theConverfation  withPrayer. 
This  does  indeed  take  up  a  great  deal  of  Time  ; 
but,  IblefsGoD,  it's  amply  repaired,  intlie 
Pleafure  I  have,  in  feeing:  mv  Labour  is  not  in 
vain  in  the  Lord."  -'-   ^ 

There  are  fome  that  are  not  Minifters,  nor  are 
concern'd  immediately  in  thofe  Things  that  apper- 
tain to  their  Office,  or  in  the  Education  of  Perfons 
for  it,  that  are  under  great  Advantages  to  promote 
fuch  a  glorious  Work  as  this.  Some  Lay-men, tho' 
it  be  not  their  Bi^fmefs  publickly  to  exhort?i teach, 
yet  are  in  iomeRefpe<as,under  greater  Advantage 
to  encourage  and  forward  this  Work,  than  Mini- 
fters.  As  particularly  great  Men,*or  Men  that  are 
high  in  Honour  and  Influence.  How  much  might 
fuch  do,  to  encourage  Religion,  k  open  the  Way 
for  it  to  have  free  Courfe,  &  bear  down  Oppofiti- 
on,  if  they  were  but  inclin'd  ?  lliere  is  commonly 


Pa.  V.  Buties  of  rich  Men.  353 

a  certain  unhappyShyncfs,  in  great  Men^with  Re- 
fpcct  to  Religion,  as  tho'  they  were  afliam'd  of  it, 
or  at  leaft,a{ham'd  to  do  very  much  at  it ;  whereby 
they  d {{honour,  &  doubtlefs,  greatly  provoke  the 
King  of  Kings,  and  very  much  wound  Religion 
among  the  common  People.  They  are  careful  of 
their  Honour,  and  feem  to  be  afraid  of  appearing 
openly  forward  and  zealous  in  Religion,  as  tho'  it 
were 'what  would  debafe  their  Character, &  expofe 
'em  to  Contempt.  But  in  this  Day  of  bringing  up 
the  Ark,  they  ought  to  be  like  David^  that  great 
King  of  Ifraely  who  tnade  himf elf  vile  before  the 
Ark  ;  and  as  he  was  the  higheft  in  Honour  and 
Dignity,  among  God's  People,  fo  thought  it  be- 
came him  to  appear  foremoft,  in  the  Zeal  &  Acti- 
vity hemanifefted  on  tliat  Occafion  ;  thereby  ani- 
mating &  encouraging  the  whole  Congregation  to 
praife  the  Lord,  and  rejoice  before  him,  with  all 
their  Might:  And  tho'  it  diminiftied  him  in  the 
Eyes  of  fcoffing  MichaU  yet  it  did  not  at  all  abate 
the  Honour  and  Efteem  of  the  Congregation  of 
IfraeU  but  advanced  it ;  as  appears  by  7.Sam,6.22. 
Rich  Men  have  a  Talent  in  their  Hands,  in  the 
Difpofal  and  Improvement  of  which,  they  might 
verv^  much  promote  fuch  a  Work  as  this,  if  they 
were  fo  diibofed.  They  are  far  beyond  others  un- 
der Advantage  to  do  Good,  and  lav  up  for  them- 
felves^Treafures  in  Heaven.  What  a  thoufaiid 
Pities  is  it,  that  for  Want  of  a  Heart,  they  com- 
monly have  no  Share  at  all  there,  but  Heaven  is- 
peopled  moftly  with  the  Poor  of  thisWorld  ?  One 
would  think  that  our  rich  Men,  that  call  them- 
felvesChriftiansjmightdevife  fome  notableThings, 

to 


354  Duties  of  rich  Men.  Pa.  V. 

to  do  with  their  Money,  to  advance  the  Kingdom 
of  their  profeffed  Redeemer,  and  the  Profperity  of 
the  Souls  of  Men,  at  this  Time  of  fuch  extraordi- 
nary Advantage  for  it.  It  feems  to  me,  that  in  this 
Age,  moft  of  us  have  but  very  narrow,  penurious 
Notions  of  Chriftianity,  as  it  refpects  our  Ufe  and 
Difpofal  of  our  temporal  Goods.     The  primitive 
Chriftianshad  not  fuchNotions :  They  were  trained 
up  by  the  Apcftles  in  another  Way.— God  has 
greatly  diftinguiftied  fome  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Nevj'^ngland^  from  others,  in  the  Abundance  that 
he  has  given  'em  of  the  good  Things  of  this  Life. 
If  they  could  now  be  perfwaded  to  lay  out  fome 
eonfiderable  Part  of  that  whichGoD  has  given  'em 
for  the  Honour  of  God,  and  lay  it  up  in  Heaven, 
inftead  of  fpending  it  for  their  own  Honour,or  lay- 
mg  it  up  for  their  Pofterity,  they  would  not  repent 
of  it  afterwards.     How  liberally  did  the  Heads  of 
the  Tribes  contribute  of  their  Wealth,  at  the  fet- 
ting  up  theTabernacle,tho'  it  was  in  a  barren Wil- 
dernefs  ?    Thefe  are  the  Days  of  the  erefting  the 
Tabernacle  of  God  amongft  us.  We  have  a  par- 
ticular Account  how  the  Goldfmiths  &  the  Mer- 
chants helped  to  rebuild  the  Wall  of  Jerufalern^ 
Neh.  3.  32.    The  Days  are  coming  fpoken  of  in 
Scripture,  and  I  believe  not  very  far  off,  when  the 
Sons  of  Zionjhall  ceme  from  far  ^  bringing  their  Sil- 
ver and  their  Gold  with  them,  unto  the  Name  of  the 
Lord  their  God,  and  to  the  holy  One  <?/Ifrael  ',  and 
when  the  Merchants  of  the  Earth,  (hall  trade  for 
Christ,  more  than  for  themfelves,  &  their  Mer- 
chandize and  Hire/ball  be  Holinefs  to  the  Lord,  and 
Jhall  not  be  tr^afured,  or  laid  up  for  Pofterity,  but 
'  (ha^^ 


Pa.  V.  Duties  of  rich  Men.  355 

Jhallbefor  them  that  dwell  before  the  Lord^to  eatfuf- 
ficientlyy  and  fir  durable  Clothing  ;  and  when  the 
Ships  of  T'drthifhjhall  bring  the  Wealth  of  the  dif- 
tant  Parts  of  the  Earth,  to  the  Place  of  God* s  Sanc- 
tuary ^  and  to  make  the  Place  of  his  Feet  glorious  ;  and 
the  abundance  of  the  Sea  frail  be  concerted  to  the  Ufe 
of  God's  Churchy  andfre  jhall  fuck  the  Milk  of  the 
G  entiles  y  and  fuck  the  Breafls  of  Kings,  The  Days 
are  coming,  when  the  great  and  rich  Men  of  the 
Wovldy  frail  hring  their  Honour  and  Glory  into  the 
Churchy  and  fhall,  as  it  were,  ftrip  themfelves,  to 
fpread  their  Garments  underCHRisT's  Feet^as  he 
enters  triumphantly  mtojerufalem  ;  &  when  thofe 
that  won't  do  fo  fhall  have  no  Glory,  &  their  Sil- 
ver &  Gold  fhall  be  eanker'd,  and  their  Garments 
Moth-eaten  ;  for  the  Saints  fhall  then  inherit  the 
Earth,  &  they  fhall  reign  on  Earth,  and  thofe  that 
honour  God  he  will  honour,  and  thofe  that  defpifc 
him  fhall  be  lightly  efteemed. 

If  fome  of  our  rich  Men  would  give  oneQuarter 
of  their  Eftates  to  promote  this  Work, they  would 
a<St  a  little,  as  if  they  were  defign'd  for  the  King- 
dom of  Heaven,  &  a  little  as  rich  Men  will  ad  by 
and  by,  that  fhall  be  Partakers  of  the  fpiritual 
Wealth  and  Glories  of  that  Kingdom. 

Great  Things  might  be  done  for  the  Advance- 
ment of  the  Kingdom  of  Chris Tjat  this  Dayjby 
thofe  that  have  Ability,  by  eftablifhing  Funds',  for 
the  Support  and  Propagation  of  Religion  ;  by  fup- 
por  ting  fome  that  are  eminently  qualified  withGifts 
and  Grace,in  preaching  the  Gofpelin  certainParts 
of  theCountry,that  are  more  deftitute  of  theMeans 
of  Grace  5  In  fearchingout  Children,  of  promifing 
H  h  _  Abilities, 


Of  Fajling  and  Prayer.         Pa.  V. 

/abilities,  &  their  Hearts  full  of  Love  toCHRisr, 
^  but  of  poor  Families,  (as  dou b tie fs  there  are  fuch 
^  now  in  the  Land)  &  bringing  them  up  for  thcMi- 
niftry  ;  5c  in  diftributrng  Books, that  are  remarka- 
bly fitted  to  promote  vital  Religion,   and  have  a 
great  Tendency  to  advance  this  Work  ;  or  if  they 
would  only  bear  the  Trouble,  Expence  &  Lofs  of 
fending  fuch  Books  into  various  Parts  of  the  Land, 
to  be  fold,  it  might  be  an  Occafion  that  tenTjmes 
fo  many  of  thofe  Books  fhould  be  bought,  as  other- 
.  wife  would  be  ;  and  in  eftablifhing  and  fupporting 
Schools,  in  poorTowns  &  Villages  ;  which  might 
be  done  on  fuch  a  Foundation,  as  not  only  to  bring 
up  Children  in  common  Learning,  but  alfo,might 
vtry  much  tend  to  theirConvidlion  &  Converfion, 
and  being  train'd  up  in  vital  Piety  ;  and  doubtlefs 
fomething  might  be  done  this  Way,  in  oldTowns, 
and  morepopulous  Places,  that  might  have  agreat 
;  Tendency  to  the  Flourifliing  of  Religion,  in  t'  - 
'  rifing  Generation. 

But  I  would  now  proceed -to  mention  fome 

I  Things,  that  ought  to  be  done,  at  fuch  a  Day  as 

I  this,  that  concern  all  in  general. 

,\  And  here,  the  firft  Thing  I  (hall  mention,  is 

>  Falling  and  Prayer.    It  feems  to  me,  that  the  Cir- 

^cumftances  of  the  prefentWork  do  loudly  c^lGod's 

People  to  abound  in  this  ;  whether  they  Qonhder 

the  Experience  God  has  lately  given  'em,  pf  tlie 

Worth'of  hisPrefence,  &:  of  the  bleiTed.  Fruits  of 

the  Effufions  of  his  Spirit,  to  excite  tlxrm  to  pra)- 

ior  theContinuance&Increafe,  &greaterExtent  ot 

iiich  Bleffincis  ;  or  whether  thc-yconuder  the  great 

iMicoura^emcnt  Gup  h.^  lately  giv^a'^m^tQ^pi^r 

tor 


P A .  V.         Of  Fnjling  and  Prater.         35:^ 

for  the  Out-pouriniz;s  of  his  Spirii%^  &  the  carr)ir|:. 
on  this  Work,  by  the  great  Miiuf^ftaticns  he  ha. 
lately  made,of  theFreenefs  &  Richer  of  hisGrace  ; 
and  how  much  there  is;  in  ^vhat  we  have  feen  ot 
the  glorious  Works  of  God*s  Power  &  Grace,  to 
put  us  in  Mind  of  the  yet  greater  Things  of  this 
Nature,  that  he  has  fpoken  of  in  his  Word,  &  to  .^ 
excite  our  Longings  for  thofe  Things,  &  Hopes  ot    j 
their  Approach  ;  or  whether  we  confider  the  great    I 
Oppofition  that  Satan  makes  againft  this  Work, 
and  the  many  Difficulties  with  which  it  is  clog'd,    ^ 
and  the  diftreffins;  CIrcumftances  that  fomeParts  of  | 
God's  Church  in  this  Land  are  under  atthis Day, 
on   one  Account  and  another. 

So  is  God's  Will,  thro'  his  wonderful  Grace, 
that  the  Prayers  of  his  Saints  ftionld  be  one  great  ": 
and  principal  Means  of  carrying  on  the  Defigns  of  j 
Christ's  Kingdom  in  the  World.  When  Goo 
has  fumething  very  great  to  accomplilh  for  his 
Church,  'tis  his  Will, that  there  (hould  precede  it,  ^^ 
the  extraordinary  Prayers  of  his  People  ;  as  is  ma^  ' 
nifcft  by  Ezek.  3-6.  37.   I  will  yet ^  for  this^  be  en- 
quind  of^byiheHoufe  <?/Ifrael,/5  do  it  for  them  ;   to- 
gether with  the  Context.     And  'tis  revealed  that, 
when  God  is  about  to  accomplifli  greatThings  for  ^ 
his  Church,  he  will  begin  by  remarkably  pouring  ' 
out  the  Spiritof  Grace&Supplication.Z<ffZ>.i2.io. 
If  we  are  not  to  expeft  that  the  Devil  fnoulU  go 
out  of  a  particular  Perfon,  that  is  under  a  bodily  I 
Pofleifion,  without  extraordinary  Vvdiy^v^  or  Prayer 
and  Fafling  ;  how  much  lefs,  fhould  we  exped  to 
have  him  caft  out  of  the  Land,  &  the  World, with- 
out it. 

Hh   2  i 


358         Of  Fajling  and  Prayer.         Pa  .  V. 

I  am  fenfible  that  confiderable  has  been  done  in 
Duties  of  this  Nature,  in  fome  Places  ;  but  I  don't 
think  fo  much  as  God,  in  the  prefent  Difpenfati- 
ons  of  his  Providence  calls  for.  I  fhould  think  the 
People  of  God  in  this  Land,at  fuch  a  Time  as  this 
IS,  would  be  in  the  Way  of  their  Duty,to  do  three 
Times  fo  much  at  Fafting  and  Prayer  as  they  do  ; 
not  only,  nor  principally,  for  the  pouring  out  of 
the  Spirit  on  thofe  7  owns  or  Places  where  they 
belong;  butthatGoD  would  appear  for  hibChurch, 
and  in  Mercy  to  miferable  Men,  to  carry  on  his 
Work  in  the  Land,  &  in  the  World  of  Mankind, 
and  to  fulfil  the  Things  that  he  has  fpoken  of  in 
his  Word,  that  his  Church  has  been  fo  long  wifti- 
ing  &  hoping  &  waiting  for.  They  that  make  Men- 
tion of  the  Lord^  at  this  Day,  ought  not  to  keep  Si- 
lence^  and  fhould  give  God  no  Rejl^  ^till  he  eflahlijh^ 
and  'til/  he  /nake  Jerufalem  a  Praife  in  the  Earthy 
agreeable  to  Ifa.  62.  6,  7.  Before  the  iirft  great 
Out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  ,  on  thcChriilian 
Church,  whlcti  began  at  Jerufalem^  the  Church  of 
God  gave  th^mfelves  to  inceilant  Prayer,  ASi,  I. 
13,14.  There  is  a  Time  fpoken  of,  v^hereinGoD 
will  remarkably  &  wonderfully  appear, for  the  De- 
liverance of  his  Church  from  all  her  Enemies,  and 
when  he  will  avenge  his  own  EUSf  :  And  Christ 
reveals  that  this  will  be  inAnfwer  to  their  inceiTant 
Prayers,  or  crying  Day  and  Nighty  Luk.  18.7.  In 
Ifrael^  \\\^Day  of  Attommefit ^w^hizh  was  their  great 
f  Day  of  Fafting  ScPrayerjpreceeded  &  madeWayfor 
Lxhe  glorious  and  joyful  Fea^  of  Tabernacle^.  When 
I  Christ  islnyftically  born  into jheWorld^to  ruje 
;  over  all  Nations,  it  is  reprefented  in  the  12  Chap. 

of 


Pa.  V.         Of  FaJiJng  and  Prayer.         359  -i 

of  Rev,  as  being  in  Confeq.uence  of  the  Church'5 
crying^  and  travailing  in  Birth ^  and  being  pained  tfh  . 
h  delivered.     One  Thing  here  inteiiidcd,  doubtlefs 
is,  her  crying  and  agonizing  in  Prayer. 

God  feems  now,  at  this  very  Timejto  be  wait- 
ing for  this  from  us.  When  God  is  about  to  be- 
ftow  fome  great  Blefling  on  his  Church,  it  is  often 
his  Manner,  in  the  firft  Place,  fo  to  order  Things 
in  his  Providence,  as  to  fhcjvv  hisChurch  theirgreat  \ 
Need  of  it,  h  to  bring  'em  into  Di^refs  for  Want 
of  it,  and  fo  put  *cm  upon  crying  earneftly  to  hhn 
for  it.  And  let  us  confider  God's  prefent  Dif- 
penfations  tov/ards  his  Church  in  this  Land  :  A 
gloriou>>  Work  of  his  Grace  has  been  begun  &car- 
riedon  ;  and  God  has,of  late,fuffer'd  innumera- 
ble Diliiculties  to  arife,  that  do;  in  a  great  Meafurc 
clog  and  hinder  it,  and  bring  rriany  of  God's  dear 
Children  into  great  Diftrefs  ;  &  y^,  don't  wholly  ' 
fgrfake  the  Work  of  his  Hand  ;  there  are  remarka- 
ble Tokens  of  His  Prefence  ftill  to  be  feen,here  and 
there  5  as  tho'  he  was  not  forward  to  forfake  us^  \ 
and  (if  I  may  (o  fay)  as  tho*  he  had  a  Mind  to  carry  ' 
on  his  Work  ;  but  only  was  waiting  for  fomething 
that  he  expefted  in  us,  as  requifite  in  order  to  it* 
And  we  have  a  great  deal  of  Rcafon  to  think,  that  ^ 
one  Thing  at  leaft  is,  that  we  ftioukl  further  ac- 
knowledge the  Greatnefs  and  Neceffity  of  fuch  a 
Mercy  ,&  our  Dependence  on  God  for  it,  in  ear- 
nefl  and  importunatePrayers  to  him.  Ax\A  by  the 
inanyErrors  that  have  been  run  into,&  the  Wounds 
we  have  thereby  given  our  felves  &  the  Caafe  that 
we  would  promote,  and  the  Mifchief  &  Coiifurio© 
we  kive  thereby  made,  Gpp  b^  hitherto  be^  re- 
Hh3  jnarfobly 


3  6o        Of  Fajiing  and  Prayer.        Pa  .  V, 

markably  IheWing  us  our  great  &  unlverfal  Depcn-* 
<lence  on  him,  &  exceeding  Need  of  his  Help  and* 
Grace :  which  fhould  engage  our  Cries  to  him 
for  it. 

There  is  no  Way  that  Chriftians  in  a  private 
Capacity  can  do  fo  much  to  promote  the  Work  of 
GoDj  and  advance  the  Kingdom  of  Christ,  as 
by  Prayer.     By  this  even  Women,  Childrep  and 
Servants  may  have  a  publick  Influence.    Let  Per-^ 
fons  be  never  fo  w^eak,  &  never  fo  mean,  &  under 
never  fo  poor  Advantages  to  do  much  for  Chrift, 
and  the  Souls  of  Men,  otherwife  ;  yet,  if  they  have 
much  of  the  Spirit  of  Grace  &  Supplication, in  this 
Way,  they  may  have  Power  with  him^  that  is  infi- 
nite in  Power,  &  has  theGovernment  of  the  whole 
World  :  And  fo  a^j^Oor  Man  in  his  Cottage  may 
have  ablefTed  Influeiice  all  over  the  World.  Goi> 
is,  if  I  may  fo  fay,  at  the  Command  of  the  Prayer 
of  Faith  ',  and  in  this  Refpeft  is,  as  it  were,undcr 
the  Power  of  his  People ;    as  PrinceSf  they  have 
Power  with  God^  and  prevail:  Tho'  they  may  be' 
private  Perfons,  their  Prayers  are  put  up  in  tte* 
Name  of  a  Mediator,  that  is  a  publick  Pcrfcn,  be-^ 
ing  the  Head  of  the  whole  Church,  and  the  Ivord 
of^the  Univerfe  :  And  if  they  have  a  great  Senfe  of 
jthe  Importance  of  eternal  Things,  &  Concern  for 
the  precious  Souls  of  Men,  yet  they  need  not  re- 
^^gret  it,  that  they  are  not  Preachers  ;^  they  may  ga 
^in  their  Earneftnefs  and  Agonies  of  Soul,  and  pour 
Icut  their  Souls  before  One  that  is  able  to  do  all 
Things  ;  before  him  they  may  fpeak  as  freely  as 
Minifters  s  they  have  a  great  High-Prieft,  through 
^hgm  Uiey  may  come  boldly  at  ^11  Jinies,  Ai-inaf 
^  vent 


P  A .  V.         Of  Fajting  and  Prayer.         361 

vent  themfelves  before  a  Prayer-hearing  Father, 
without  any  Reftraint. 

If  the  People  of  God,  at  this  Day,  inftead  of 
Ipending  Time  in  fruitlefs  Difputing,  and  talking 
about  Oppofers,  and  judging  of  them, and  animad- 
verting upon  the  Unreafonablenefs  of  their  Talk 
and  Behaviout",  and  its  Inconfiftence  with  true  Ex- 
perience, would  be  more  filent  in  this  Way,  and 
open  their  Mouths  much  more  before  God,  and 
fpend  more  Time  in  Failing  &  Prayer, they  would 
be  more  in  the  Way  of  a  Bleffing.  And  if  fome 
Chriftians  in  the  Land,  that  have  been  complain- 
ing of  their  Minifters,  and  ftrugglingin  vain  to  de- 
liver themfelves,  from  the  Difficulties  they  have 
complainM  of,  under  their  Miniftry,  had  faid  and 
afted  lefs  before  Men,  and  had  applied  themfelves 
with  all  their  Might  to  cry  to  God  for  their  Mi* 
nifters,  had  as  it  were  rifen,  and  ftorm'd  Heaven 
with  'their  humble,  fervent  and  inceflant  Prayers^ 
for  them,  they  would  have  been  much  more  in 
the  Way  of  Succefs.  V  ^      * 

Go  D  in  his  Providence,  appearing  in  the  prefent 
State  of  Things,  does  efpecially  call  on  his  Pe©ple 
in  NeW'England  to  be  very  much  in  praying  to 
him  for  the  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  upon  Mini- 
Jters  in  the  Land.  For  tho*  it  is  not  for  us  to  deter- 
inine, -concerning  particular  Minrfters,  how  much, 
they  have  of  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  yet  in' the  general, 
Jt  is  apparent,  that  there  is,  at  this  Day,  Need  of 
very  great  Degrees  of  the  Prefence  of  God  with- 
the  Miniftry  m  Netv- England ^  much  greater  De- 
grees of  it-than  has  hitherto  been  granted  ;  they 
n^ed  Jt- for  themfelves, U  theChurch^^f  God ftand^ 
fa^?xtreme  Need  of  it*  la 


362         Of  Fafiing  and  Prayer.         Pa .  V, 

In  Days  of  Falling  &  Pyayer^wherein  the  whole 
Church  or  Congregation  is  concern'djif  the  whole 
Pay,  befides  what  is  fpcnt  in  our  FamiheSjWas  not 
fpent  in  the  Meeting-Houfe,  but  Part  of  it  in  par- 
ticular praying  Companies  or  Societies,  it  would 
have  a  Tendency  to  animate  &  engage  Devotion, 
more  than  if  the  whole  Day  were  fpent  in  puHick, 
where  the  People  are  no  Way  aftive  themfelves  in 
the  Worfhip,  any  otherwife  than  as  they  join  with 
the  Minifter.  The  Inhabitants  of  many  of  our 
Towns  are  now  divided  into  particular  praying  So- 
cieties, moft  of  the  People,  young  &  old,  have  vo- 
luntarily aflbciated  themfelves,  in  diftinft  Com- 
panies, for  mutual  Affiftance,  in  fecial  Worfhip, 
in  privateHoufes  :  What  I  intend  therefore  is,  that 
Days  of  Prayer  fliould  be  fpent  partly  in  thefe  dif- 
tincl  praying  Companies.  Such  a  Method  of  keep- 
ing a  Faft  as  ihis^  has  feveral  Times  been  proved, 
viz.  In  the  Forenoon,  after  the  Duties  of  the  Fa- 
Bjiily  &  Clofet,  as  early  as  might  be,  all  the  People 
of  the  Congregation  have  gathered  in  their  particu- 
lar religiousSocieties ;  Companies  of  Men  by  them- 
felves, and  Companies  of  Women  by  themfelves  ; 
young  Men  by  themfelves,  and  young  Women  by 
themfelves  ;  &  Companies  of  Children,  in  all  Parts 
of  the  Town,  by  themfelves,  as  many  as  were  ca- 
pable of  focial  religious  Exercifes  ;  the  BoVs  by 
themfelves,  and  Girls  by  themfelves  :  And  about 
the  middle  of  the  Day,  at  an  appointed  Hour,  all 
have  met  together  in  the  Houfe  of  God,  to  offer 
V  Up  publick  Prayers,  and  to  hear^a  Sermon  fuitable 
\  to  the  Occafion  ;  And  then,  they  have  retired  from 
\  ^^HojtfspfQoJ  again^into  their  privateSocie ties, 

and 


Pa.  V.         Of  Fajling  and  Prayer.         3^3 

and  fpent  the  remainingPart  of  the  Day  in  praying 
together  there,  excepting  fo  much  as  was  requifite 
for  the  Duties  of  the  Family  and  Cloftt,  in  their 
own  Houfes.— And  ithas  been  found  tabe  of  great 
Benefit,- to  aiEft  and  engage  the  Minds  of  the  Peo- 
ple in  the  Duties  of  the  Day. 
■^  I  have  often  thought  it  would  be  a  Thing  very 
defireable,  and  very  likely  to  be  follow'd  with  a 
great  Bleffing,  if  there  could  be  fome  Contrivance, 
that  there  lliould  be  an  Agreement  of  all  God's 
People  in  J??ierica^  that  are  well  affedled  to  this 
Work,  to  keep  a  Day  of  Fafting  &  Prayer  to  God ; 
wherein  we  (hould  all  unite  on  the  fame  Day,  m 
humbling  our  felves  before  God- for  our  paft  long 
•  continued  Lukewarmnefs  &Unprofitablenefs  \  not 
omitting  Humiliation  for  the  Errors  that  fo  many 
of  God's  People  that  have  been  zealoufly  afFedled 
towards  this  Work,  through  their  Infirmity  &  re- 
maining Blindnefs  and  Corruption,  havjs  run  into  ; 
and  together  with  Thankfgivings  to  God,  for  (o 
glorious  and  wonderful  aDifplay  of  his'Power  and 
Grace,  in  the  late  Out-pourings  of  his  Spirit,  to 
addrefs  the  Father  ofMercies,with  Prayers  &  Sup- 
plications, and  earneft  Cries,  that  he -would  guide 
and  direcSl  his  own  People, and  that  he  would  con- 
tinue, and  ftill  carry  on  this  Work,  &;  more  abun- 
dantly &  extenfively  pour  out  his  Spirit ;  :ana  par- 
ticularly that  he  would  pour  out  his  Spirit  upon 
Minifters  ;  &  that  he  v/ould  bow  the  Keaver.sa^id 
comedown,  and  ereci: his glcrious  Kingdom  thro' 
the  Earth,— Some  perhaps  may  think  that  its  beirig 
all  p;i. the  fame  Day,  is  a  Circumftajice>of  no  great 
Confcquence  s  but  I  caiVt  be  of  that  MinJ  :  Such 


3  64         Of  Fajiing  and  Prayer.     .    P a  .  V. 

a  Circumftance  makes  the  Union  and  Agreement 
of  God's  People  in  his  Worfliip  the  more  vifible, 
and  puts  the  greater  Honour  upon  God,  &  would 
have  a  great  Tendency  to  aflift  &  enliven  the  De- 
votions of  Chriftians  :  It  feems  to  me,  it  would 
mightily  encourage  and  animate  God's  Saints,  in 
humbly  &  earneftly  feeking  to  God,  for  fuch  Blef- 
fings  which  concerns  them  all ;  and  that  it  would 
be  much  for  the  rejoicing  of  all,  to  think,  that  at 
the  fame  Time,  fuch  Multitudes  of  God's  dear 
Children,  far  &  near,  were  fending  up  their  Cries 
to  the  fame  common  Father,for  the  fame  Mercies. 
Christ  fpeaks  of  Agreement  in  afking,  as  what 
(Contributes  to  the  Prevalence  of  the  Prayers  of  his 
People.  Matth.  18.  ig,  jfgain  I  fay  unto  you^  that 
if  any  two  ofyaii^  /hall  ague  on  Earthy  as  touching 
my  Thing  that  they  Jhall  afk^  it  Jhall  he  done  for  them 
rfmy  Father  which  is  inHeaven.  If  the  Agreement, 
or  united  Purpofe  and  Appointment  of  but  two  of 
God's-Children,would  contribute  much  to  tbePre- 
valence  of  theirPrayers,  how  much  more  the  Agree- 
ment of  fo  many  Thoufands  ?  Christ  delights 
greatly  in  the  Union  of  his  People,  as  appears  by 
his  Prayer  in  the  17th  oijohn  :  And  efpeciaily  is 
the  Appearance  of  their  Union  in  Wor{hip,lovely 
and  attraftive  unto  him. 

I  doubt  not  but  fuch  aThing  as  Ihave  nowraen- 
tion'd  is  pra<5licable,v^ithout  a  great  deal  of  1  rau- 
bk :  Some  confiderableNumber  of Minifters  might 
meet  together,  and  draw  up  the  Propofal, wherein 
a  certain  Day  fhould  be  pitch'd  upon, at  a  fufficient 
Dlftance,  endeavouring  therein  to  avoid  any  other 
publick  Day,that  might  interfere  with  theDefign, 

in 


I 


Pa  .  V,         Of  Fajiing  and  Prayer.         3  65 

ill  any  of  the  Provinces,  &  the  Bufinefs  of  thcDay 
ftioiild  be  particularly  mention'd  ;  and  thefe  Pro- 
pofals  lliould  be  publilhedjand  fcnt  abroad,  into  all 
Parts,  with  a  Defiie,that  as  many  Minifters  as  are 
difpoled  to  fall  in  with  'em, would  propofe  theMat- 
t-er  to  their  Congregations,  and  having  taken  their 
Confent,  would  fubfcribe  their  Names,  together 
with  the  Places  of  which  they  are  Minifters,  &fend 
t)ack  the  Propofals  thus  prefcribed,  to  the  Printer  ^ 
(the  Hands  of  many  Miniifters  might  be  to  one  Pa- 
per) &  the  Printer  having  received  the  Papers, thus 
lL2bfcribed,from  all  the  Provinces,  might  print  the 
Propofals  again,  with  all  the  Names ;  thus  they 
might  be  fent  abroad  again,  with  the  Names,  that 
God's  People  mightknow  who  are  united  with  'em 
in  the  Affair:— One  of  theMinifters  oi  Bo/Ionmi^t 
be  defir'd  to  have  theOverfight  of  the  printing  and 
dir}"^rfing  the  Propofals.— In  fuch  a  Way,perhaps, 
might  1x5  fulfilled,  in  fomeAleafure,  fuch  a  general 
Mourning  and  Supplication  of  God^s  People,  as  is 
^)pkea  of,  Z^ch,  12.  at  tJae  latter  End,  with  which 
the  Church'^ gloriousDay  is  to  be  introduced.  And 
£ach  a  Day  might  be  fometjiing  like  the  Day  of  At- 
tonenmitln  Ifraely  before  the  joyful  FeaJiofTaber- 

.  -One  Thing  more  I  would  mention  concerning 
Faftii^gand  Prayer,wherein  I  think  there  has  been 
a  Negicil  inMiniilers  j  and  that.is,th^takho'  they 
recommend,and  much  infifl  on  the  Duty  of  fecret 
Prayer,  in  their  Preaching  ;  fo  little  is  faid  about 
fecret  Fafh'ng.  It  is  a  Duty  recommended  by  our 
Saviour  to  his  Followers,  juft  in  irke^  Manner  as 
fccret  Prsij-^r  is  j  .^s  giay  be  feen  by  comparing  the 

'       •       5th 


266         Of  the  Lord's  Supper.        P a . 

5.&6.v.of  the6.  Chdi^.oi Mat,  with  v.i6,i7,if?. 
Tho'  I  don't  fuppofe  that  fecrct  Fafting  is  to  be 
pradifed  inaftated  Manner,  &  fteady  Courfe,  as 
fecret  Prayer,  yet  it  feems  to  me,  'tis  a  Duty  that 
all  profeflingChriftians  fhould  pra6lice,&frequent- 
Jy  pradtice.  There  are  many  Occafions,  of  both  a 
fpiritual  and  temporal  Nature,that  do  properly  re- 
quire it ;  and  there  are  many  particular  Mercies, 
that  we  defire  for  our  felves  orFriends,that  it  would 
be  proper,  in  this  Manner,  to  feek  of  God. 

Another  Thing  I  would  alfo  mention,  wherein 
it  appears  to  me  that  there  has  been  an  Omiffion, 
with  Refpeft  to  the  external  Worfliip  of  God. 
There  has  been  of  late,  a  great  Increafe  of  preach- 
ing the  Word,  &  a  great  Increafe  of  focial  Prayer, 
and  a  great  Increafe  of  fmging  Praifes  :  Thefe  ex-^ 
ternal  Duties  of  Religion  are  attended,much  more 
frequently  than  they  ufed  to  be ;  yet  I  can't  under- 
ftand  that  there  is  any  Increafe  of  theAdminiftrati- 
on  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  or  that  God's  People  do 
any  more  frequently  commemorate  thedyingLove 
of  their  Redeemer,  in  this  facred  Memorial  of  it, 
than  they  ufed  to  do  4 ,  Tho'  I  don't  fee  why  an  In- 
creafe of  Love  to  Chrift,  fhould  not  difpofe  Chri- 
ftians,as  much  to  increafe  in  this,  as  in  thpfe  other 
Duties ;  or  why  it  is  not  as  proper,  that  Chrift's 
Difciples  fhould  abound  in  this  Duty,  in  this  joy- 
ful Seafon,  which  is  fpiritually  Supper-Time,  a 
Feafl-Day  with  God's  Saints,  wherein  Chrift  is  fo 
abundantly  manifefling  his  dying  Love  to  Souls,and 
is  dealing  forth  fo  liberally  of  the  precious  Fruits 
of  his  Death.  It  feems  plain  by  the  Scripture,  that 
the  primitive  Chriflians  were  wont  to  celebrate 

this 


Pa.  V.  Of  moral  Duties.  ^6y 

this  Memorial  of  the  SufFerings  of  their  clear  Re- 
deemer every  Lord's  Day  :  And  fo  I  believe  it  v^ill 
be  again  in  the  Church  of  Chrift,  in  Days  that  are 
approaching.  And  vi^hether  we  attend  this  holy  and 
fweet  Ordinance  fo  often  now,  or  no,  yet  I  can't 
but  think  it  would  become  us,  at  fuch  a  Time  as 
this,  to  attend  it  much  oftner  than  is  commonly 
done  in  the  Land. 

But  anotlier  Thing  I  would  mention, which  it  is 
of  much  greater  Importance, that  we  fhould  attend 
to  ;  and  that  is  the  Duty,  that  is  incumbent  upon 
'  Qod's  People  at  this  Day,  to  take  Heed, that  while 
they  abound  in  external  Duties  of  Devotion,  fuch 
asPraying,  Hearing,  Singing,  &  attending  religious 
Meetings, there  be  a  proportionableCare  to  abound 
in  moral  Duties,  fuch  as  A6ls  of  Righteoafneft, 
Truth, MeeknefsjForgivenefs  &  Love  towards  our 
Neighbour ;  which  areofmuchgreacerlwiporfanc'e 
in  the  Sight  of  God,  than  all  the  Externals  ti  his 
Worihip  :  Which  our  Saviour  was  particularly 
careful,  that  Men  fliould  be  well  aware  of.  Mat. 
9.13.  But  go  ye ^and learn  zvhat  that  mecmeth^  I  will 
have  Mercy ^and not  Sacrifice.  And  Chap.12.7.  But 
if  ye  had  known  what  this  meaneth^I  will  have  Mercy 
and  7iot  Sacrifice^  ye  wquld  not  have  condemned  the 
Guiltlefs. 

The  internal  Ads  &  Principles  of  the  Worfhlp 
of  God,  or  the  Worfhip  of  the  Heart,in  the  Love 
and  Fear  of  God,  Truft  in  God,  and  Refignation 
to  God,  ^c.  are  the  moft  effential  and  important 
of  all  Duties  of  Religion  whatfoever  ;  for  therein 
cohfifts  the  ElTence  of  all  Religion.  But  of  this  in-  ' 
ward  Religion,  there  are  two  Sorts  of  external  Ma- 
nifeftations  or  Expreflions.  The  one  Sort.are  out- 
I  i  ward 


368  Of  moral  Duties.  Pa.  V. 

ward  Acls  of  Worfhip,  fuch  as  meeting  in  religious 
Afiemblieis^atteriding  Sacraments,  &  other  outward 
Inititutions5&  honouring  God  with  Geftures,fuch 
as  bowing,  or  kneeling  before  him, or  with  Words, 
in  fpeaking  honourably  of  him,  in  Prayer, Praife,or 
religious  Conference.  And  the  other  Sort,  are  the 
Expreflions  of  our  Love  to  God,  by  obeying  his 
moral  Commands,  of  Self-denial,  Righteoufnefs, 
Meeknefs,  and  Chriftian  Love,  in  our  Behaviour 
among  Men.  And  the  latter  are  of  vaftly  the  great- 
eft  Importance  in  the  Chriftian  Life.  God  makes 
littleAccountof  the  former,  inComparifon  of  them. 
They  are  abundantly  more  infifted  on,  by  the  Pro- 
phets, in  the  Old-Teftament,  and  Christ  &  his 
Apoftles,  in  the  New.  When  tliefe  two  Kinds  of 
Duties  are  fpokenof  together,  the  latter  are  ever- 
more greatly  preferred.  As  in  Jfa.i.i2^to  the  18. 
and  Amos  5,'2r,f5V.-and  M/V.6.7,8.  and  Ifa,  58. 
5,  6,  7.  and  Zech.^.  ten  firft  Verfes,and  Jer,  2. 
fevcn  firft  Verfes,  &  Mat,  15.  3,  ^c.  ^Often, 
when  the  Times  were  ^^ry  corrupt  in  Ifrael^  the 
People  abounded  in  the  former  Kind  of  Duties,bYt 
were  at  fucbTimes, always  notorioufly  deficient  in 
the  latter  ;  as  the  Prophets  complain, 7/^^.58.  four 
firft  Verfes,  Jer,  6.  13,  compared  with  ver.  2C, 
Hvpocrites  &  Self-righteousPerfons,do  much  more 
commonlv  abound  in  the  former  Kind  of  Duties, 
than  the  latter  ;  as  Chrift  remarks  of  thePharilees, 
yM7f.23.i4,25,&34-  ^^^^^^-  ^1^^  Scripture  direfls 
Ins  tojhcmmr  Faith  by  our  Works,  it  is  principally 
Uhe  latter  Sort  are  intended  ;  as  appears  by  Jarn, 
'H.  fVom  8  ver.  to  the  End,  and  i  >^.  2d  Chap. 
'  ver.  3.  7,8,9,10,1  r.  And^e  ai^  to  be  judged  at 
the  laftbay  ,efpeciaH}%  thefe  latter  fort  oi  Vv  orks  s 


Pa.  V.  Of  moral  Duties,  300 

as  is  evident  by  the  Account  we  have  of  theDay 

Judgment^in  the  25  oi  A'latth.     External  Acts  •-■i 
Worfl^^p^inWords  6c  Gcftures5&  outwardForni-^, 
are  of  littleUfe,but  as  Signs  of  fomcthing  elfe^or  n 
they  are  aPiofefTion  of  inwardWorfiiip  :  They  :::  <. 
iiot  fo  properly  lliewing  ourRcIigion  by  curl>ceds  j 
for  they  are  only  a  (hewing    our    Religion  by 
WordsjOr  an  outw^ardProfeffion.  But  he  that  (hows 
Religion  in  the  other  Sort  of  Duties,  (Lews  it  in 
fomething  more  than  a  ProfeiTion  of  Words,  he 
(hews  it  in  Deeds.  And  tho'  Deeds  may  be  hypo- 
critical, as  well  as  Wofds  ;  yet  in  themfelves  they 
are  of  greater  ImportJtncejfor  they  are  much  m(?re 
profitable  to  our  felves  and  our  Neighbour.     We 
can't  exprefs  our  Love  to  God, by  doing  anyThing 
that  is  profitable  to  Gcd  ;  God  would  therefore 
have  us  do  it  in  thofe  Things   that  are  profitabk 
to  our  Neighbours,  whom  he  has  conftituted  his 
Receivers  :  Our  Goodnefs  extends  not  toGcd,  but 
to  otir  Fellow  Chriftians.    The  latter  Sort  of  Du- 
ties, put  greater  Honour  upon  God,  becaufc  there 
is  greater  Self-denial  in  them.  The  external  Acls  ' 
of  V/orifcip,  confifting  in  bodily  Ge(}ures,  Words 
and  Sounds, are  the  cheapcft  Part  of  Religion,  and 
leaft  contrary  to  our  Lufts.  The  Difficulty  cl' tho- 
rough, external  Religion,  don't  lie  in  them,     Lc- 
wicked  Men  enjoy  their  Covetoufnefs,  and  the;. 
Pride,  their  Malice,  Envy  and  Revenge,and  the 
Senfuaiity  am!  Voluptuoufnefs,  in  their  BehavioL: 
amongit  Men,  &  they  will  be  w^illingto  compoiind 
the  Matter  with  God,  &  fubmit  to  whatForms  o^ 
Worfhip  you  pleafe,  &  as  many  as  you  pleafe  -,  :. 
is  manifeft  in  the  Jews  of  old,  in  the  Davs  of  ti.. 
Proph^ets,  &  the  Phaiifee^  in  Chrilt'sTime,  k  x)- ^ 
Papilis  &  Maliometuns  at  this  Day.^ 


3/0         Of  Deeds  of  0:>arlty.         Pa.  V. 
At  a  Time,  when  there  is  an  Appearance  of  the 

Approach  of  any  gloriousRevival  of  God'sChurch, 

God  does  efpeciallv  call  his  profeffinaPeople  to  the 
Pradice  of  nit)ral  Duties.  Ifa.  s^^i^Thus  faith  the 
Lord  ;  keep  ye  Judgment^  and  do  Jujllce  ;  fcr  my 
Salvation  is  neof  to  co?ne^  and  niy  Righieoufnefs  to  be 
rsveahd.  So  when  John  preached,that  the  Kingdom 
cf  Heaven  was  at  Hand,  and  cried  to  the  People, 
Prepare  ye  the  JVay  of  the  Lord.make  hisPathsJhait^ 
as  we  have  an  Account,Z//,^.3.4.  the  People  afk'd 
Win,  IFhat  they  Jhouldd^  ?  He  anfwers,  He  that 
hath  two  Coats  ^  let  hi?n  impcrt  to  him  that  hath  mne^ 
and  he  that  hath  Meet^  let  him  do  Ukewife.  The 
Publicans y27/V,  What  Jhall  we  do  ?  He  anfwers, 
'Exan  no  more  than  that  zuhich  is  appointed  you.  Ajid 
the  Soldiers  ajked  him.  What  fhall  we  do  ?  He  re- 
plies. Do  Piolence  to  no  Man  \  neither  accufe  any 
falfely\  and  he  content  with  your  Wages.  Ver.  lo, 
II,   12,    13,   14. 

,  God's  People,at  fuch  aTime  as  thisjought  efpe- 
cially  to  abownd  inDeeds  of  Charity,orAlms-giving, 
We  generally,  in  thefe  Days,  feem  to  fall  far  be- 
low the  true  Spirit  &  Pradice  of  Chrifl:ianity,with 
Regard  to  this  Duty,  and  (eem  to  have  but  little 
Notion  of  it,  fo  far  as  I  can  underftand  the  New- 
Teftaoient.— Ata  Time  when  God  is  fo  liberal  of 
fpiritual  Things,  we  ought  not  to  be  ftrait-handed 
towards  him,  &  fparing  of  our  temporalThings.— 
So  far  as  I  can  judge  by  the  Scripture,  there  is  no 
external  Duty  whatfoever,  by  which  Perfons  will 
be  fo  much  in  the  Way,  not  only  of  receiving  tem- 
poral Benefits,  but  alfo  fpiritual  BlefEngs,  the  In- 
fluences of  God's  holySpirit  in  the  Heart,in  divine 
D^fcQvefips,  and  fpiritual  Confotetions,  I  think  it 

would 


Pa.  V,         Of  Deeds  of  Charitf.         371 
would  be  unreafonable  to  undcrfland  thofe  Promi- 
{ts^  made  to  this  Duty,  in  the  58  Chap,  of  Ifaiah^ 
in  a  Senfe  exclufive  of  fpiritual  Difcoveries&Com- 
forts.  Ifa.58.  7th  V.  ^\\—Is  it  mt  to  deal  tlyyBread 
to  the  hungry^  and  that  thou  bring  the  Poor  that  are 
cajl  cut^  to  thy  Hoiife  ?  U^cn  thoU  feejl  the  Naked 
that  thou  cover  him^^  that  thou  hide  not  thy  fdf  from  ' 
thine  ozvn  F/eJ/j  ?  Then  Jhall  thy  Light  break  forth  as 
the  Mornings  and  thy  Health  Jhall  fpriytg  forth  fpec- 
dilyy  and  thy  Righteoufnefs  Jhall  go  before  theej^  ihi  ^ 
Glory  of  the  Lord  jhall  be  thyRere-ward ;    then  Jhalt 
thou  call^  ami  the  LcrdJljall  anfivcr^  thou  JJjalt  cry^ 
and  he  Jhall  fay.  Here  I  am.  If  thou  take  aii^ayfro^ 
thernidji  of  thee, the  Yoke, the  pitting  forth  oftlfeFn: 
ger,  and  fpeaking  Vanity  \  and  if  thou  draw  out  / 
Soul  to  the  Hungry,  and  fatisfy  the  affiiSfed  Soul , 
thenjijall  thy  Light  rij'e  in  Oifcurity ,and  thy  Dark- 
nefs  be  as  the  Noon-day  5  and  the  Lord  Jhall  guide  thee 
continually, and  fatisfy  thy  Soul  in  Drought,  and  make  ' 
fat  thy  Bones  \  y  thou  Jhalt  be  like  a  water  edGar  den  ^ 
and  like  a  Spring  of  Water,  whofe  Water's  fail  not. 
So,  that  giving  to  the  Poor  is  the  Way  to  receiv  c 
fpiritual  Blelfings,  is  manifeft  by  Pfal.  11^.  4  Ver» 
&c.   Unto  the  Upright,   there  arifcth  Light  in  tfM 
Darknefs  -,  he  is  gracious, and  full  of  Compajfion,and 
righteous :  A  good  Man  Jheiveth  Favour  and  lendetb^ 
he  will  guide  his  Affairs  with  Difcreticn-,  furely  he 
Jhall  not  be  moved  for  ever  -,  the  Righteous  Jhall  he  in 
everlajling  Remembrance  ;  he  Jhall  not  be  afraid  of 
evil  Tidiiigs,  his  Heart  is  fixed,  trujling  in  tJ^eLord-, 
hts  Heart  is  ejiablijhed,  he  fkall  not  be  afraid, until  he 
Jee  his  Defire  upon  his  'Enemies  :  He  hath  difterfcd^ 
he  hath  given  to  the  Poor  ^  his  Horn  Jl^all  be  exalted 
with  Honour.  That  this  is  one.  likely  Means  to  ob- 
^  i  3  tain 


37^  P/  ^^^^^  of  Charify.         Pa.  V. 

tain  Affurance,  is  evident  by  i  Joh.  3.  18,  ig.' 
My  Utile  Children^  let  us  not  kve  in  Word  ^neither  in 
Tongue^  but  in  Deed^  and  in  Truth  ;  an4  hereby  we 
know  thai  we  are  of  the  Truth ^  and  jhall  affure  our 
Hearts  before  hi?n. 

We  have  a  remarkable  Inftance  in  Abraham^  of 
God's  rewardingDeeds  of  Charity  virith  fvi^eet  Dif- 
coveriesof  himfelf,  when  he  had  been  remarkably 
charitable  to  his  Brotlier  Lot^  and  the  People  that 
he  had  redeemed  out  of  Captivity  vi^ith  him5by  ex- 
poftng  his  Life  to  refcue  them,  &  had  re-taken  not 
only  the  Perfons,  but  all  the  Goods,  the  Spoil  that 
had  been  taken  by  Chedorlaomer^Tini  the  Kings  that 
were  with  him,  &  the  King  of  Sodo?n  ofFer'd  him, 
that  if  ke  would  give  him  the  Perfons,  he  might 
take  the  Goods  to  himkU^  Abraham  refufed  to  take 
any  Thing,  even  fo  much  as  a  Thread  or  Shoe- 
latchet,  but  returned  all.  '  He  might  have  greatly 
Jnrich'd  himfelf,  if  he  had  taken  the  Spoils  to  him- 
felf,  for  it  was  the  Spoils  of  five  wealthy  Kings,and 
their  Kingdoms,  yet  he  coveted  it  not ;  the  King 
and  People  of  Sodom  were  now  become  Ot)je£ls  of 
Charity,  having  been  ftripped  of  all  by  their  Ene- 
mies, th^ref©re  Abraham  generoufly  beftowed  aH 
upon  them  ;  as  we  have  an  Account  in  Gen,  14. 
and  four  laft  Verf^s.  And  he  was  foon  reward'ed  for 
it,  by  a  blefTed  Difcovery  that  God  made  of  him- 
felf to  him  ;  as  we  have  an  Account  in  the  next 
Woi^ds,  After  thefe  Things,  the  Word  of  the  Lord 
caTne  unto  Abram,  in  a  Vifiony  fayijig.  Fear  not  A- 
bram,  I  am  thy  Shield,  and  thy  exceeding  great  Re- 
.ward.  '« I  am  thy  Shield,  to  defend  thee  in  Battle<» 
^^  as  I  have  now 'done  ;  and  tbo'  thou  haft  chari- 
•'^«'-tab!y  refufed  to  t^ke  any  Reward,  for  expofmg 
'  '    •      '  ''thy 


Pa.  V.  Of  Deeds  of  Charity.'  373 
*«  thy  Life,  to  refcue  this  People,  yet  fear  not, 
<«  thou  (halt  not  lofe,  thou  flialt  have  a  Reward,  I 
<'  am  thy  exceeding  great  Reward." 

When  Chrift  was  upon  Earth  he  was  poor,  and 
an  Objeft  of  Charity  ;  and  during  the  Time  of  his 
publick  Miniftry,  he  was  fupported  by  theCharity 
of  fome  of  his  Followers,  and  particularly  certain 
Women,  of  whom  we  read  £^^.8.2,3.  And  thefe 
Women  were  rewarded,  by  being  peculiarly  fa- 
voured wuth  gracious  Man}feftations,which  Chrift 
made  of  himfelf  to  them.  He  difcovered  himfelf 
firft  to  them  after  hisRefurre£lion, before  the  twelve 
Difciples  :,  They  firft  faw  a  Vifion  of  glorious  An- 
gels, who  fpake  comfortably  to  them ;  &  thenChrift 
appear'd  to  'em,  &  fpake  Peace  to  'em,  faying^  All 
Hall^be  not  afraid ;  and  they  ivere  admitted  to  comej 
and  hold  htm  by  the  Feet,  andworjhip  him,Mat.28« 
And  tho'  we  can't  now  be  charitable  in  this  Way, 
to  Chrift  in  Perfon,  who  in  his  exalted  State,  is  in- 
finitely above  the  Need  of  our  Charity  ;  yet  we 
may  be  charitable  to  Chrift  now,  as  well  as  they 
then  ;  for  tho'  Chrift  is  not  here,  yet  he  has  left 
pthers  in  hisRoom,  to  be  his  Receivers  ;  and  they 
are  the  Poor.  Chrift  is  yet  poor  in  his  Member's  ; 
and  he  that  gives  to  them,  lends  to  the  Lord  :  And 
Chrift  tells  us  that  he  ftiall  look  on  what  is  done  to 
them,  as  done  to  him. 

Rebekah,  in  her  Marriage  with.  Ifaac,  was  un- 
doubtedly a  remarkable  Typeof  theChurch,in  hei' 
Efpoufals  to  theLord  Jefus.  But  fhe  found  herHuf- 
band, in  doing  Deeds  of  Charity,  agreeable  to  the 
Prayer  oi  Abraham's  Servant,  who  prayed  that  this 
might  be  theThing  that  might  diftin^uifh  &  mark 
out  theVirgin.that  was  to  be^^^^fsWife.   SoCi?r- 

nsUus 


374        Of  "Deeds  of  Charity.         Pa.  V'^ 

neUusvf^s  bro't  to  theKnowledge  of  Chrifl:,in  this 
Way,  He  was  a  devout  Man^  and  one  that  feared 
God^  with  all  his  Houfe ;  which  gave  much  Alms  to 
tie  People^and prayed  to  God  alway.  And  an  Angel 
appeared  to  him, and  f aid  to  him.  Thy  Prayers  &  thine 
Ahns  are  come  up  for  a  Memorial  before  God-,  and 
now  fend  Men  to  ]o^}^2i,and  call  for  Gne?i\mon,whofe 
Sirname  is  Peter,  ^c.  Aft.  lo.  at  the  beginning. 
And  we  have  an  Account  in  the  following  Parts  of 
the  Chapter,  how  God,  by  Peter' ^  Preaching,  re- 
vealedChrift  toCornelius  &  hisFamily,&of  theHoIy 
Ghoft's  defcending  upon  them,  and  filling  their 
Hearts  with  Joy,  and  their  Mouths  with  Praifes. 

Some  may  poffibly  objed  that  for  Perfons  to  do 
Deeds  of  Charity,  in  Hope  of  obtaining  fpiritual 
Bleffings  &  Comforts  in  this  Way,  would  feem  to 
ftkew  aSelf-righteousSpirit,a$tho'  they  would  offer 
fomething  to  God,  to  pur  chafe  thefe  Favours.  But 
if  this  be  a  good  Objedion,  it  may  be  made  againft 
cveryDuty  whatfoever.  All  external  Duties  of  the 
iirft  Table  will  be  excluded  by  it,  as  well  as  thofe 
of  the  fecond.  Firft-Table-Duties  have  as  dired  a 
Tendency  to  raife  felf-righteous  Perfons  Expeda- 
tions  of  receiving  fomething  from  God, on  Account 
of  them, as  fecond-Table-Duties  ;  and  on  fomeAc* 
counts  more,  for  thofe  Duties  are  more  immedi- 
ately offer'd  to  God,  &  therefore  Perfons  are  more 
ready  to  expeft  fomething yV^»i  God  for  them.  But 
no  Duty  is  to  be  negle£led,  for  Fear  of  making  a 
Righteoufnels  of  it.  And  I  have  always  obferved, 
that  thofe  ProfefTors  that  are  moft  partial  in  their ' 
Duty,  exa<Sl  &  abundant  in  external  Duties  of  the 
Iirft  Table,  and  flack  as  to  thofe  of  the  fecond,  are 
the  moft  iSelf-righteousi 


Pa.V.  0/  Deeds  of  Charily.  ^  375 
If  God's  People  in  this  Land,were  once  brought 
to  abound  in  fuch  Deeds  of  Love,  as  much  as  in 
Praying,  Hearing,  Singing, and  rehgious  Meetings 
and  Conference,it  would  be  a  moft  blefTedOmen  : 
There  is  nothing  would  have  a  greater  Tendency 
to  bring  the  God  of  Love  down  from  Heaven  to 
the  Earth  :  So  amiable  would  be  the  Sight,  in  the 
Eyes  of  our  loving  and  exalted  Redeemer,  that  it 
would  foon  as  it  were  fetch  him  down  from  his 
Throne  in  Heaven,  to  fet  up  his  Tabernacle  with 
Men  on  the  Earth,  and  dwell  with  them.  I  don't 
renaember  ever  to  have  read  of  any  remarkableOut- 
pouring  of  theSpiritjthat  continued  any  longTime, 
but  what  was  attended  with  an  abounding  in  this 
Duty.  So  we  know  it  was  with  that  great  EfFufion 
of  the  Spirit  that  began  at  Jerufalein  in  theApoftles 
Days  :  And  fo  in  the  late  remarkable  Revival  of 
Religion  in  Saxony^  which  began  by  the  Labours  of 
the  famous  Profefibr  Franck^  &  has  now  been  carr 
ried  on  for  above  thirty  Years,  and  has  fpread  its 
happy  Lifluences  into  many  Parts  of  the  World  ; 
it  was  begun,  and  has  been  carried  on,  by  a  won- 
derful Pradice  of  this  Duty.  And  the  remarkable 
Bleffing  that  God  has  given  Mr.  Whitefield^  &  the 
great  Succefs  with  which  he  has  crown'd  him,may 
well  be  thought  to  be  very  much  owing  to  his  lay- 
ing out  himfelf  fo  abundantly  in  charitableDefigns. 
And  it  is  foretold,  that  God's  People  fhall  abound 
in  this  Duty,in  theTime  of  the  greatOut-pouring 
of  the  Spirit  that  fhall  be  in  the  latter  Days.  Ifai. 
32.  5  &  8.-  The  vile  Perfonjhallm  more  he  called  li- 
beral^ nor  the  Churl  fat  d  to  be  bountiful  —  But  the 
Liberal  devifeth  liberal  Things^  and  by  liberal  Things 
Jhallhejiand.  ^ 

to 


3/5  Of  renemng  the  Covenant.  P  a  .  V, 
To  promote  a  Reformation ^ with  Refpeft  to  all 
Sorts  of  Duties,  among  a  profeffing  People,  one 
proper  Means,  and  that  which  is  recommended  by 
frequent  Scripture  Examples,  is  their  folemn, pub- 
lick  renewing  their  Covenant  with  God.  And 
doubtlefs  it  would  greatly  tend  to  promote  thf$ 
Work  in  the  Land,  if  the  Congregations  of  God's 
People  could  generally  be  brought  to  this.  If  a 
Draught  of  a  Covenant  fhould  be  made  by  their 
Minifters,  wherein  there  fhould  be  an  exprefsiVIen- 
tion  of  tbofe  particular  Duties,  that  the  People  of 
the  refpedliveCongregations  have  been  obferv'dto 
be  moft  prone  to  negiedl,  and  thofe  particular  Sins 
that  they  have  heretofore  efpecially  fallen  into,  or 
that  it  may  be  apprehended  they  are  efpecially  in 
Danger  of,  whereby  they  may  prevent  or  refift  the 
Motions  of  God's  Spirit,  and  the  Matter  (hould 
be  fully  propofed  and  explained  to  the  People,  and 
th*ey  have  fufficient  Opportunity  given  them  fof 
Confideration,  and  then  they  (hould  be  led,  all  that 
are  capable  of  Underftanding,  particularly  tofuls- 
fcribc  the  Covenant,  and  alfo  fhould  all  appear  to-* 
gether,  on  a  Day  of  Prayer  aiwl  Faffing,  publickly 
to  own  it  before  God  In  his'Houfe,  as  their  Vow  to 
the  Lord  ;  hereby  Congregations  of  ChrilHans 
would  do  that  which  would  be  beautiful,  U  would 
put  Honour  upon  God 5  and  be  very  profitable  to 
themfelves. 

Such  a  Thing  as  this,  was  attended  with  a  very 
wonderful  Bleifing  in  Scotland^  and  followed  with 
a  great  Increafe  of  the  blefTed  Tokens  of  the  Pre- 
fence  of  God,  &  remarkable  Out-pourings  of  his 
Spirit ;  as  the  Author  of  the  fulfilling  of  the  Serifs 
ture  iuforms,  p.  186.  5th  Edition^ 


Pa.  V.  ne  Conch/ton.  o^yy 

A  People  muft  be  taken, when  they  are  in  a  good 
Mood,  when  confiderable  religious Imprcffions  are 
prevailing  among  'em  ;  otherw^fe  they  will  hardly 
be  induced  to  this  ;  but  innumerable  wull  be  their 
ObjecElions  and  Cavils  againfl:  it. 

One  Thing  more  I  would  mention,  which  if 
Grod  fhould  ftill  carry  on  tliis  Work,  would  tend 
much  to  promote  it,  and  that  is,  that  an  Hiftory 
fliould  be  publifh'd  once  a  Month,or  once  a  Fort- 
night, of  the  Progrefs  of  itjby  one  of  the  Minifters 
of  Bo/ion^  who  are  near  the  Prefs,  &  are  moft  con- 
veniently fituated,  to  receive  Accounts  from  all 
Parts.  It  has  been  found  by  Experience,  that  the 
Tidings  of  remarkable  EfFedls  of  the  Power  and 
Grace  of  God,  in  any  Place,  tend  greatly  to  awa- 
ken &  engage  the  Minds  of  Perfons,  in  other  Pla- 
ces. ' Tis  groat  Pity  therefore,but  that  feme  Mean? 
fhould  be  ufed,for  the  moft  fpeedy,  moft  extenfive 
and  certain  giving  Information  of  fuchThings,and 
that  the  Country  ben't  left,  only  to  the  flow,  par- 
tial and  doubtful  Information,  andfalfc  Reprefen* 
tations  of  common  Report. 

Thus  I  have,  (I  hope,  by  the  Help  of  God,) 
finiftied  what  I  propofed.  I  have  taken  die  more 
Pains  in  it,becaufe  it  appears  to  me,that  now  God 
is  giving  us  the  moft  happy  Sefifon  to  attempt  am 
uni  verfal  Reformation,  that  ever  was  given  inNeiv^ 
England.  And  'tis  a  thoufand  Pities,that  we  fhould 
fail  of  that  which  would  be  fo  glorious,  for  want  of 
being  fenfible  of  our  Opportunft)',  or  being  aware 
of  thofeThings  diattend  to  hinder  it,or  ou»  taking 
improper  Courfes  toobtam  it,or  not  being  fenfible 
\(\  what  Way  God  expeds  we  fhould  feek  it.  If  iC 
ihould  pleafe  God  to  blefi  any  Means,  for  thexon-i 

vinciiig 


578  "The  Conclufion.  Pa.  V. 

vincing  the  Country  of  his  Hand  in  thisWork,and 
bringing  them  fully  and  freely  to  acknowledge  his 
glorious  Power  and  Grace  in  it,  and  engage  with 
one  Heart  and  Soul,and  by  due  Methods, to  endea- 
vour to  promote  it,  it  would  be  a  Difpenfation  of 
divine  Providence5that  would  have  amoft  glorious 
Afpeft,  happily  fignifying  the  Approach  of  great 
and  glorious  Things  to  the  Church  of  God,  and 
juftly  caufing  us  to  hope,  that  Christ  would 
fpeedily  come,  to  fet  up  his  Kingdom  of  Lights 
Holinefs,  Peace  and  Toy  on  Earth,  as  is  foretold  in 
his  Word.    Amen  i  Even  fo  coihe  LordJesus  I 


FINIS. 

ERRATA. 

PAge  68.  line  12.  read  Ovrr  />a«rfr/«^.  pSal  2irV^ 
this  9^94.1  25. ri^^^ff  ^^6\l9  ^^^*^^^^^f  ^^^' 
p  102  1.18  rMalitable.  pni4l  8  T.came.p.iZ9  )  ^^  r  p 
fill,  p  131  \.Z9  T  opprrjfes  them,  p  i;5  ^  9  r.^^^j/bTea' 
ehers  p  155  L^lt  r  li  oman.  p. 159  1  18  dcic  or  p  I6I 
I  iS.r  terJds  p  185  I.26  r.omiviib.  p  190  I  51  r.lVcrku 
p. 195  1  51  xfoufce  p  197-^  j^r  fjarro'wly  p  209  1. 16  r. 
brut!/b.  p.2;3  1  10  r.Spirit  p.  2^4!.  lo  r^r/>7^i.p.24l 
1.5.  rfouvii  by  0  254  1  15  r.  fc?  ufed  P.284I  2  r.to  little. 
p. 342  1.9  r.treifuring.  p.347  ^.i^s.'Witb  tbeJppearance, 
p.  349.  1.18  r.Orfginal,  p.3  Jl  1.1 5  r.  tbi.lii  t.Qff/ent. 
p  365  1.9  TiSubfcribedi 


; 


